It’s now well documented that “W” planned to invade Iraq well before the 9-11 tragedy. It’s also well established that he and his staff lied us into a war that has only benefited the military/industrial complex. Iraq is in shambles and teeters on the brink of all out civil war. Tens of thousands of Iraqi and US lives have been lost. Some polls show that 70% to 80% of the Iraqi population would prefer that we leave. The majority of US citizens want us to pull out, but now aren’t sure of how it should be done to minimize more ethnic and political unrest. One thing the majority of the American public does agree on is that we should have never gone there in the beginning.
Will impeachment hearings happen? Time will tell.
George W. Bush took us on a crusade, perpetuated by his personal religious beliefs and a cadre of yes men who took advantage of the situation for financial and/or political gain. His inner circle used fear mongering at every turn when the polls showed a downturn in his popularity. Hardliners in the GOP accused those who opposed his war plans of being anti-patriotic and that their actions would bring down the United States. (Joseph McCarthy is alive and well.)
To see our current president winging it in front of a microphone and camera, one might conclude that his verbal skills are lacking. Or, one might also conclude that he is unsure enough of his own beliefs that it’s hard for him to communicate exactly where he stands on many issues. However, that’s a statement of a speculative nature and should probably be left to individual perception.
What is not in doubt is his self-assured demeanor that he is somehow a direct agent of God and must help guide the destiny of our planet. In an interview early in his presidential career, he said that he felt that God had allowed him to be in the office of the president at this time in history for a reason. Even it that was true, history has shown that the most spiritually influential icons of the world were very humble about their place of leadership as relating to matters of the soul and guidance of the populace. To broadcast to the masses that you are somehow a chosen one is the beginning of the end. It is an acknowledgment of self rather than servitude. (“The least among you shall be the greatest.”) Those boasting of their highly divine nature have often led others to mass suicides or financial ruin. In their spiritual beginnings they rely heavily on religious institutions to tell them what is morally and ethically right or wrong, taking comfort in strict dogma, but seldom knowing how to develop a personalized ethos. Guidance is one thing. Being told what and how to think is a whole different animal.
When you combine President Bush’s feelings of divine guidance with his with his belief in the anti-Christ, Armageddon, and the second coming, you have a volatile mix. If he truly believes that he is in the oval office to directly effect the policies and future of the world nation, then he must also believe that no matter what he does, history will view him as a conquering hero.
From a literalist religious conservative mindset, there can be no wrong moves if you’ve been blessed to do the controlling and push the buttons, (or give others around you the authority to do so). If you bring about a huge war in the middle-east and cause the overthrow and/or annihilation of so-called pagan religions, and possibly start WWIII, then you will be viewed as a hero in heaven for hastening the onset of the end time. If you only rid the world of a despot or two and bring democracy to a developing nation, then you will be seen as a hero by some of humanity.
It’s scary to wonder if our president might look in the mirror each morning and conclude that no matter the outcome of his global decisions, personally, he can’t lose. He has shown enough arrogance in his presidency to lead one to that conclusion. Just look at his reaction to the wire tap scandal.
(“If the president does it, it’s not illegal.”)
Not only does he feel that he can do no wrong, his statements throughout his presidency show that he has only the most rudimentary knowledge of the checks and balances set forth in our three branches of government. I feel that this lack of knowledge has made him vulnerable to the mis-leadings of the financial benefactors of his foreign policy decisions.
On the other hand, we could set all of the above aside and speculate that invading Iraq was merely to show Bush senior that he could do what his father couldn’t. Now that would be a sick motivation. However, men who abuse positions of power and authority have done it for the love of a woman, for the hatred of a brother, or the color of their skin.
Wouldn’t it be sad if all of the death and destruction of this war was brought about because, ultimately, George W. Bush was looking for daddy’s approval?
