The Guardian August 27, 2003


Did Goebbels write the Bush administration's speeches?

Bush, 2001:

"Americans are asking "Why do they hate us?" They hate what they see right 
here in this chamber: a democratically elected government.

"Their leaders are self-appointed. They hate our freedoms: our freedom of 
religion, our freedom of speech, our freedom to vote and assemble and 
disagree with each other."

Goebbels, 1939:

"They hate our people because it is decent, brave, industrious, hardworking 
and intelligent. They hate our views, our social policies, and our 
accomplishments. They hate us as a Reich and as a community. They have 
forced us into a struggle for life and death. We will defend ourselves 
accordingly. All is clear between us and our enemies."

Richard Perle, policy advisor to Bush, 2001:

"No stages. This is total war. We are fighting a variety of enemies. There 
are lots of them out there. All this talk about first we are going to do 
Afghanistan, then we will do Iraq, then we take a look around and see how 
things stand. That is entirely the wrong way to go about it ... If we just 
let our vision of the world go forth, and we embrace it entirely, and we 
don 't try to ... piece together clever diplomatic solutions ... but just 
wage a total war against these tyrants, I think we will do very well. Our 
children will sing great songs about us years from now."

Goebbels, 1943:

"So total war is the demand of the hour. We must put an end to the 
bourgeois attitude which we have also seen in this war: Wash my back, but 
don't get me wet! The danger facing us is enormous. The efforts we take to 
meet it must be just as enormous. The time has come to remove the gloves! 
We must use our fists now! There is no excuse for only superficially and 
carelessly making use of the war potential at home and throughout Europe. 
We must use the full resources, as quickly and thoroughly as it is 
organizationally and practically possible. Unnecessary concern is wholly 
out of place. The future of Europe hangs on our success in the East! We are 
ready to defend it! The German people are shedding their most valuable 
blood in this battle. The rest of Europe should at least work to support 
us. Those who do not understand this fight today will thank us on bended 
knee tomorrow that we took it!"

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