Bush? A Foreign Policy Legacy?
by Jon Faulkner
Link to ArticleThis headline appeared, appropriately enough, on MSN’s home page on April Fool’s Day. “Bush seeks to salvage his foreign policy legacy.” Someone must have told Bush that as a soon to be former President of the U.S. his administration would be judged for its contributions to its citizens, and whether or not it left the world a better place. Learned people will carefully select the Bush man’s shining moments, such as they are. Their criteria for assessing his presidency is ultimately very simple and only asks, “Of what use was this man?”Someone had to have told Bush that a normal human being would want to be remembered as someone whose influence helped set humanity on a course that improved the lot of men. He’d want to be remembered as a man who helped humanity recognize its nobler aspects - its inspired moments of revelation - its capacity for selflessness that would let it slip free of its shackles and fly, no matter how briefly. But Bush doesn‘t see things that way. He would never imagine that humanity may be intrinsically good. His vanity, his immense egoism, his narcissism doesn’t allow consideration of what others may think, or believe. Bush accepts without question or thought that people necessarily believe as he does. If someone’s opinion or belief differs from his, that person is simply wrong, or misinformed. Now, in the last year of his presidency, he’s worried about his foreign policy legacy. Some of his foreign policy achievements are timeless gems. The time he called the leader of North Korea, “that little pygmy,” typifies Junior’s insight into statesmanship. There will always be people who admire the George Bush’s of this world. They are the people who see the tabloids on their way through the checkout lines. “99 year old women! Pregnant with Satin’s child!” They buy the newsflash, anxious to bring it home and read it. An astonishing number of Americans tune in to watch the Rush Limbaugh Show. Ann Coulter writes best selling books that brim with vindictive hatred for all things liberal. Fox News is owned by a foreigner who supports republican interests, not because he has any care or feeling for the U.S, but because republicans prioritize big business over the interests of U.S. citizens.As he prepared Americans for the Iraqi invasion, Bush never saw himself as a liar. He became very angry with those who called into question his assertions. It quickly became evident that anyone who didn’t go along with Bush’s wholly contrived war, was a traitor. He only told Americans what they needed to hear so they’d do the right thing and support his preconceived plans. Bush believed it himself when he said, “Mission Accomplished.” That’s what he wanted to be true, and so it was. Thus spoketh George. The steely eyed president, when he invited terrorists to “Bring it on,” was only acting the cheerleader he once was. As the self proclaimed “War President” Bush felt that such tough guy imagery went beautifully with his “War President” identity. Does Bush, even for a moment, consider the war a mistake? Or ever wonder, even for a second, that the invasion was not in the nation’s best interests? Of course not. His eagerness to attack Iran amply demonstrates that having learned nothing from his Iraqi disaster, he’s anxious to repeat his mistake in Iran and of course, drag the U.S. along with him. Bush would never concede he‘d made a mistake because in his world what he believes, what he wants, is all that matters. His claims of Iranian weapons research and development have been exposed as wildly exaggerated, but undaunted, he keeps beating the war drums. “Bush seeks to salvage his foreign policy legacy” Smacking Iran should do it, he thinks. I whacked two out of three of them axis of evil bastards! How’s that for foreign policy? When Bush so obviously cheated and took Florida in 2000, the media warned of a Constitutional Crisis. If he’s permitted to attack Iran a Constitutional Crisis may be welcomed. Americans can’t afford to sit back and watch an obvious screw-up vandalize the Middle East. If he’s not stopped and put on a short leash the United States may never regain its former status as a good neighbor to the world. It will instead be seen by the world’s nations as a rogue power, out of control, and armed to the teeth. A nation that incites fear - that's no longer an inspiration to the world for a better life of opportunity and equality. The best foreign policy legacy that Bush could still salvage would be an early return to Crawford where he could whack at his bushes and battle the o'possum and armadillo. These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages. If you have accounts on these bookmarking sites, you can post this story to share it with others.
|
