President George W Bush 'feared Saddam Hussein would attempt his own version of 9/11 terror attacks', newly declassified records reveal
Daily Mail1 day
UK Files: Bush Saw Iraq War as Mission Against 'Evil-Doers'
Above: George W. Bush and Tony Blair at the Foreign Office, London, England, Nov. 20, 2003. Image copyright: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Bush's religious conviction and moral clarity drove necessary action against a dangerous dictator who threatened global security. The president understood that decisive leadership sometimes requires difficult choices, and his commitment to protecting America from another 9/11-style attack justified removing Hussein from power. Diplomatic efforts had failed for over a decade, making military intervention the only viable option.
Establishment-critical narrative
The Iraq War was fundamentally about demonstrating American hegemony rather than addressing genuine security threats, with Bush officials using WMD fears as cover for a predetermined agenda. The administration deliberately misled the public about intelligence to justify a war designed to send a message to other nations about American power. This reckless approach destabilized the entire region and created lasting chaos.