Asked by Veteran to Apologize for Horrors of Iraq War, Karl Rove Says No
'I'm not going to apologize for our government having done the right thing by having removed Saddam Hussein from power,' Rove insists
Karl Rove may be a lot of things, but being sorry for the 2003 invasion of Iraq is not one of them.
A 32-year-old Iraq war veteran confronted Rove at the University of Connecticut this week, calling on the former senior advisor to President George W. Bush to apologize for the horrors of that war and its lingering effects both at home and abroad.
"I've taken responsibility for my actions and dealt with my demons while advocating for a peaceful resolution for a war that was an act of aggression with no clear goal," said Ryan Hemowitz, who said he served as a medic with the 2nd Battalion of the 7th Infantry Regiment, at an event sponsored by the UConn College Republicans. "Can you take responsibility and apologize for your decision in sending a generation to lose their humanity and deal with the horrors of war, which you have never had the courage to face? Will you apologize to the millions of fathers and mothers who lost their children on both sides of this useless war?"
Rove, who helped lead the disinformation campaign that led to the 2003 Iraq invasion, refused to say he was sorry.
"We should be proud of what we were able to achieve in Iraq," Rove said, citing the alleged dangers posed by former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein--the same justification war hawks offered in the lead up to Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Hussein was a "state sponsor of terrorism" who "thumbed his nose at the international community," Rove said. "Fourteen times he gave the finger to the United Nations."
"I'm sorry, we have a fundamental disagreement," he concluded. "I appreciate your service, but I'm not going to apologize for our government having done the right thing by having removed Saddam Hussein from power."
Watch the full exchange below:
According to the Hartford Courant:
Also during his address to the audience at UConn, Rove commented on the 2016 presidential campaign, saying he hoped Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts would enter the race. "We should be so lucky," he said, calling her "Pocahontas," a reference to her claims of Native American ancestry.
Rove was not available for comment Thursday, but Kristin Davison, chief of staff for Karl Rove & Company, said the comment about Warren was "simply making light of the fact that Sen. Warren continuously over-embellished her heritage for political benefit during the course of her 2012 campaign."
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. In a few short weeks, US voters will have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
Karl Rove may be a lot of things, but being sorry for the 2003 invasion of Iraq is not one of them.
A 32-year-old Iraq war veteran confronted Rove at the University of Connecticut this week, calling on the former senior advisor to President George W. Bush to apologize for the horrors of that war and its lingering effects both at home and abroad.
"I've taken responsibility for my actions and dealt with my demons while advocating for a peaceful resolution for a war that was an act of aggression with no clear goal," said Ryan Hemowitz, who said he served as a medic with the 2nd Battalion of the 7th Infantry Regiment, at an event sponsored by the UConn College Republicans. "Can you take responsibility and apologize for your decision in sending a generation to lose their humanity and deal with the horrors of war, which you have never had the courage to face? Will you apologize to the millions of fathers and mothers who lost their children on both sides of this useless war?"
Rove, who helped lead the disinformation campaign that led to the 2003 Iraq invasion, refused to say he was sorry.
"We should be proud of what we were able to achieve in Iraq," Rove said, citing the alleged dangers posed by former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein--the same justification war hawks offered in the lead up to Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Hussein was a "state sponsor of terrorism" who "thumbed his nose at the international community," Rove said. "Fourteen times he gave the finger to the United Nations."
"I'm sorry, we have a fundamental disagreement," he concluded. "I appreciate your service, but I'm not going to apologize for our government having done the right thing by having removed Saddam Hussein from power."
Watch the full exchange below:
According to the Hartford Courant:
Also during his address to the audience at UConn, Rove commented on the 2016 presidential campaign, saying he hoped Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts would enter the race. "We should be so lucky," he said, calling her "Pocahontas," a reference to her claims of Native American ancestry.
Rove was not available for comment Thursday, but Kristin Davison, chief of staff for Karl Rove & Company, said the comment about Warren was "simply making light of the fact that Sen. Warren continuously over-embellished her heritage for political benefit during the course of her 2012 campaign."
Karl Rove may be a lot of things, but being sorry for the 2003 invasion of Iraq is not one of them.
A 32-year-old Iraq war veteran confronted Rove at the University of Connecticut this week, calling on the former senior advisor to President George W. Bush to apologize for the horrors of that war and its lingering effects both at home and abroad.
"I've taken responsibility for my actions and dealt with my demons while advocating for a peaceful resolution for a war that was an act of aggression with no clear goal," said Ryan Hemowitz, who said he served as a medic with the 2nd Battalion of the 7th Infantry Regiment, at an event sponsored by the UConn College Republicans. "Can you take responsibility and apologize for your decision in sending a generation to lose their humanity and deal with the horrors of war, which you have never had the courage to face? Will you apologize to the millions of fathers and mothers who lost their children on both sides of this useless war?"
Rove, who helped lead the disinformation campaign that led to the 2003 Iraq invasion, refused to say he was sorry.
"We should be proud of what we were able to achieve in Iraq," Rove said, citing the alleged dangers posed by former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein--the same justification war hawks offered in the lead up to Operation Iraqi Freedom.
Hussein was a "state sponsor of terrorism" who "thumbed his nose at the international community," Rove said. "Fourteen times he gave the finger to the United Nations."
"I'm sorry, we have a fundamental disagreement," he concluded. "I appreciate your service, but I'm not going to apologize for our government having done the right thing by having removed Saddam Hussein from power."
Watch the full exchange below:
According to the Hartford Courant:
Also during his address to the audience at UConn, Rove commented on the 2016 presidential campaign, saying he hoped Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts would enter the race. "We should be so lucky," he said, calling her "Pocahontas," a reference to her claims of Native American ancestry.
Rove was not available for comment Thursday, but Kristin Davison, chief of staff for Karl Rove & Company, said the comment about Warren was "simply making light of the fact that Sen. Warren continuously over-embellished her heritage for political benefit during the course of her 2012 campaign."