Local News
Byrd blasts Bush over ‘misson accomplished’
Five years ago Thursday, President Bush stood on the deck of the USS Abraham Lincoln to pronounce an end to major combat operations in Iraq, putting a “mission accomplished” label on the war.
On the eve of that anniversary, Sen. Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., arguably the most vocal opponent of the conflict, took Bush to task, saying his remarks on the Abraham have proved “wildly premature and dangerously naive.”
In fact, the senator said, more than 97 percent of the 4,000 troops killed since his speech were killed in Iraq.
“President Bush has said that history will judge him on his decision to go to war in Iraq,” he said.
“I say that history is already delivering its verdict. It is evident in the strains of the long and multiple deployments that are wearing down our mighty military and in the suffering of the American people as they bury their fallen heroes. It is evident in the fear and distrust with which the rest of the world views us, and in the instability wracking the Middle East, Iraq and Afghanistan as a result of the Bush policies.”
Byrd said the president failed to exercise any foresight or planning for what the Iraqi conflict has turned into and accused Bush of using the Navy ship as a backdrop for political gain.
“Five years ago, I took issue with the president’s choreographed political theatrics because I believed that our military forces deserved to be treated with respect and dignity, and not used as stage props to embellish a presidential speech,” the senator said.
— E-mail: mannix@register-herald.com
- Local News
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Residents stunned that road washed away
Imagine waking up in the morning and finding that the main road leading to your home had been washed away by floodwaters in the night. That was exactly the shock awaiting Shady Lake Drive residents in Shady Spring Saturday morning.
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SCHOOL CLOSINGS and DELAYS
Click HERE to go to the West Virginia Department of Education with up-to-date school closings and delays by county.
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Mount Hope hit hard by floodwaters
MOUNT HOPE — Boyd Donelow waded through water halfway up his legs as he looked at the aftermath of flooding in Mount Hope.
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Ultrasound bill goes to Manchin
CHARLESTON — Absent penalties that initially raised some eyebrows, an update of the Women’s Right to Know Act that makes ultrasound imaging available to women seeking abortions was sent to Gov. Joe Manchin Saturday.
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Gun tax holiday is approved
CHARLESTON — Hunters and other gun owners can buy a new firearm and ammo without paying a sales tax one weekend in October in a bill that exited the Legislature before Saturday’s deadline.
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Folks are ready for daylight saving time
Daylight saving time is here. Spring officially arrives today.
And people are happy. -
Conferees agree on bill to cut dropouts
The bill would hike the legal age to quit school from 16 to 17.
- What's Happening — March 14, 2010
- Boil water notices
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Moderate flooding reported in Greenbrier County
Emergency officials are reporting moderate flooding of small streams in western Greenbrier County, with the Greenbrier River not expected to crest until 7 p.m. or later Saturday.
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Residents stunned that road washed away
