In Search of Rumsfeld's 5,000 Iraqi Small Businesses (Page 5)

Contacting the Commander in Chief

In order to get the full flavor of our exchange, allow me first to cite my letter in full, followed by the President's response.

Dear President Bush:

Could you please provide more details on your statement in your [October 11] radio address:

"Iraq has a strong entrepreneurial tradition, and since the liberation of that country, thousands of new businesses have been launched."

Specifically, I'd like to know:

What is the source for your statement? How many thousands are you referring to? What is the geographical distribution of these new businesses? Are they scattered throughout the country, or concentrated in certain areas? What exactly do you mean by "businesses"? Do certain kinds of "businesses" predominate? How many people would an average Iraqi "business" employ? Are these "businesses" the same businesses that Secretary Rumsfeld was referring to in the Sept 29 issue of the Wall Street Journal in which he notes that 5,000 new small businesses have opened in Iraq since "liberation" (May 1)?

Thank you.
Sincerely,
John Brown

And here is the President's response:

October 24, 2003

Dear Dr. Brown:

Thank you for your letter about Operation Iraqi Freedom. In Iraq, we sought to remove a threat to our security and to free the Iraqi people from oppression. Saddam Hussein's regime has ended and the Iraqi people are regaining control of their own country and future. Pockets of resistance still remain. American and coalition forces are helping restore civil order, and providing critical humanitarian aid to the Iraqi people. Iraqis are already meeting openly and freely to discuss the future of their country.

Coalition forces have made every effort to spare innocent civilians from harm and continue to do so. We respect the Iraqi people, its rich culture, and religious faiths. We will continue to bring food, water, medicine, and other aid to Iraq, and we will help to build a government of, by, and for the Iraqi people.

Our war on terrorism continues. We look to our Nation's Armed Forces, with the support of our coalition partners, to help advance peace in a troubled world. By answering the call of duty, these brave men and women serve as examples of courage, dedication, and sacrifice. Laura and I join our military families and countless others in praying that all who serve return home safely and soon.

Thank you again for writing. Best wishes.

Sincerely, George W. Bush

I somehow don't think that this letter will ever be found in the George W. Bush Presidential Library. But then one never knows.

Finally, Trust the New York Times

In an October 6, 2003, article on the Iraqi economy, "Baghdad Merchants Find a Boulevard of Dreams," Alex Berenson of the Times writes:

Secretary of Defense Donald H. Rumsfeld has said that 5,000 new businesses have opened in Iraq since May 1.The consensus on the street is that business has improved since American troops ousted Saddam Hussein.

Berenson also noted, however, that "there is no way to know exactly" if what the Secretary said is correct.

Always trust the New York Times.

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