White House denies that God told Bush to invade Iraq
{{date|October  7, 2005}}

During the October 6 press briefing, White House spokesman Scott McClellan denied comments attributed to President Bush in a forthcoming BBC television series. The three-part documentary, ''Elusive Peace: Israel and the Arabs'', includes an interview with a former Palestinian foreign minister, Nabil Shaath, where he recounts an incident at the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh in June 2003. The series starts on Monday and documents the recent history of attempts to bring peace to the Middle East.

Mr. Shaath says that President Bush told a Palestinian delegation: "God would tell me, George, go and fight those terrorists in Afghanistan. And I did, and then God would tell me, George, go and end the tyranny in Iraq... and I did. And now, again, I feel God's words coming to me, go get the Palestinians their state and get the Israelis their security, and get peace in the Middle East. And by God I'm gonna do it."

At the briefing, a reporter asked if McClellan was aware of the comments ascribed to President Bush and McClellan replied, "No, that's absurd. He's never made such comments." Pushed further about the statements, McClellan responded, "No, I checked into that [BBC] report and I stand by what I just said."

Mr. Shaath provided further context to the statement saying, "It was really a figure of speech. We felt he was saying that he had a mission, a commitment, his faith in God would inspire him ... rather than a metaphysical whisper in his ear," he said.

== Sources ==

*{{source
|url    = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4320586.stm
|title  = Bush God comments 'not literal'
|author = 
|pub    = BBC News
|date   = October 7, 2005
}}
*{{source
|url    = http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1587122,00.html
|title  = White House denies Bush God claims 
|author = James Sturcke
|pub    = The Guardian
|date   = October 7, 2005
}}
*{{source
|url    = http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/TPStory/LAC/20051007/BUSHSIDE07/TPInternational/?query=bush+god+
|title  = Bush and God 
|author = Paul Koring
|pub    = Globe and Mail
|date   = October 7, 2005
}}
*{{source
|url    = http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1256504,curpg-2,fright-0,right-0.cms
|title  = God told me to invade Iraq:Dubya
|author = Rashmee Roshan Lall
|pub    = Times of India
|date   = October 7, 2005
}}
*{{source
|url    = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,11069-1815665,00.html
|title  = The truth about God and George
|author = Simon Freeman
|pub    = Times Online
|date   = October 7, 2005
}}
*{{source
|url    = http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2005/10/20051006-6.html#
|title  = White House Press Briefing by Scott McClellan
|author = 
|pub    = Executive Office of the President of the United States
|date   = October 6, 2005
}}

{{publish}}

{{archive}}
[[Category:politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:North America]]
[[Category:George W. Bush]]
[[Category:Sharm el-Sheikh]]
[[Category:Executive Office of the President of the United States]]
During the October 6 press briefing, White House spokesman Scott McClellan denied comments attributed to President Bush in a forthcoming BBC television series. The three-part documentary, Elusive Peace: Israel and the Arabs, includes an interview with a former Palestinian foreign minister, Nabil Shaath, where he recounts an incident at the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh in June 2003. The series starts on Monday and documents the recent history of attempts to bring peace to the Middle East.

Mr. Shaath says that President Bush told a Palestinian delegation: "God would tell me, George, go and fight those terrorists in Afghanistan. And I did, and then God would tell me, George, go and end the tyranny in Iraq... and I did. And now, again, I feel God's words coming to me, go get the Palestinians their state and get the Israelis their security, and get peace in the Middle East. And by God I'm gonna do it."

At the briefing, a reporter asked if McClellan was aware of the comments ascribed to President Bush and McClellan replied, "No, that's absurd. He's never made such comments." Pushed further about the statements, McClellan responded, "No, I checked into that BBC report and I stand by what I just said."

Mr. Shaath provided further context to the statement saying, "It was really a figure of speech. We felt he was saying that he had a mission, a commitment, his faith in God would inspire him ... rather than a metaphysical whisper in his ear," he said.
politics and conflicts United States North America George W. Bush Sharm el-Sheikh Executive Office of the President of the United States