What happened last August?

From the White House's President Meets with Economic Team, Q&A session: (emphasis added)

THE PRESIDENT: ... And as the economy was beginning to recover, the enemy hit us on September the 11th, and that affected our economy in a big way. And then we had corporate scandals which we've dealt with. And then, of course, you remember the "march to war." I've reminded people -- I think this isn't the first time I've said this -- that some would put on their TV screens that we were "marching to war." As a matter of fact, it was a year ago that we began the "march to war." During the August vacation, as I recall, there was the march to war. It's hard to have an upbeat view of the world when you're "marching to war." War is not exactly a positive thought, particularly when it comes to people willing to take risks, and consumer confidence.

What happened in August 2002? That was when Cheney launched the "Get Iraq" campaign.

From the White House website: Vice President Speaks at VFW 103rd National Convention [26 Aug 2002] (excerpts, emphasis added)

... a person would be right to question any suggestion that we should just get inspectors back into Iraq, and then our worries will be over.

A return of inspectors would provide no assurance whatsoever of his compliance with U.N. resolutions.

Simply stated, there is no doubt that Saddam Hussein now has weapons of mass destruction. There is no doubt he is amassing them to use against our friends, against our allies, and against us.

posted by Quiddity at 8/14/2003 07:01:00 AM