Five Years

On March 19, 2003, George W. Bush announced that the war in Iraq had begun:

My fellow citizens, at this hour, American and coalition forces are in the early stages of military operations to disarm Iraq, to free its people and to defend the world from grave danger.

...and each year since, has marked the anniversary with a speech.

One year:

There are still violent thugs and murderers in Iraq, and we're dealing with them.

U.S. Fatalities:  583

Two years:

Iraq's progress toward political freedom has opened a new phase of our work there.

U.S. Fatalities:  1,522

Three years:

We are implementing a strategy that will lead to victory in Iraq.

U.S. Fatalities:  2,319

Four years:

There's been good progress.

U.S. Fatalities:  3,224

And now, five years:

No one would argue that this war has not come at a high cost in lives and treasure ­ but those costs are necessary when we consider the cost of a strategic victory for our enemies in Iraq

U.S. Fatalities:  3,990
U.S. Casualties:  40,229
Iraqi Fatalities:  Unknown
Iraqi Casualties:  Unknown
Cost:  $504,000,000,000.00
 
Over the course of five years, George Bush has gone from saving the world from a nonexistent danger to not wanting to lose.