This fixation of The White House for Saddam's whiskers begs the question, in whose interest is the Bush leadership acting? To be sure, the portrait incessantly presented by the Bush PR machine of Iraq as an imminent threat to the US, has a large portion of Americans frightened of Saddam's every breath. But what portion of Americans is insisting on a US military action against the despot?
They number few, probably fit in a mahogany paneled trophy room. Once several Bush Cabinet Secretaries, their senior aids, a small group of policy consultants, the VP and President settle into the stiff leather chairs, the group demanding a conflict with Iraq is complete. Is there anybody else in America who'd have a bad hair day if this war were called off?
Instead of winning a lasting peace in Afghanistan, the President obsesses on a new hunting party to deliver us from a non-threat in The Middle East. Even the flimsy rational for a US action on Iraq has become a drone of clichés spindly as the legs on a wounded deer.
It's sad for an American to witness a good man at heart, George W. Bush, unthinkingly buy what a cynical clique of powerful aids have sold him wrapped in patriotism and manifest destiny, and with a dollop of sunny optimism on top. Iraq is on sale and for one month only. The President's weakness for hubris and vengeance is exploited by close appointees bursting with unchecked powers.
Americans are favorably disposed toward the downfall of Saddam Hussein, but the President's cheerfully accepted method as the only practical course is erected on foibles of character billed as super human strength. Whatever interests the President's advisors have in subjugating the country of Iraq and that region is incidental to the ultimate power that can start this war: it's up to George W. Bush to pull the trigger or keep our powder dry.
An authentic liberation of Iraq will come through the dull, slow and deliberate but effective process of containment on one hand and dialogue on the other, not twin fisted bombing into "freedom." All the while, neither would the US nor anyone else be in danger of something terrible emanating from Iraq.
Instead of a White House set on energetic negotiation with allies and enemies to achieve improvement for humankind, demagoguery rules the day at The White House. What we get is a bunch of frat boys full of themselves. They've taken their trusting, rich daddy's Corvette on a midnight joyride, pistols blazing, gin in the glove compartment and Death at the wheel. I pray God stay close to George Bush. Let's just hope he does not mistake who is Who or believes his instincts His.
January 22, 2003