WASHINGTON — President Bush gave a rousing defense of the Iraq war on its fifth anniversary Wednesday, claiming “the successes we are seeing in Iraq are undeniable.” But Democrats and war protesters made it clear they’ll continue to call the conflict a disaster.
“This isn’t the war we signed up for,” said Jon Alterman, head of the Middle East program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. Back in 2003, he said, Americans expected a quick, decisive defeat of Saddam and no lingering presence.
“What we are seeing is a much more difficult, muddled, nuanced presence at a much higher cost and for a longer time than anyone bargained for,” he said.
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