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Bush's bluff coming off
To turn around after years of destruction in Iraq and say 'Ooops', is outrageous.
- Gulf News
- Published: 23:16 December 3, 2008
For years, George W. Bush has justified his invasion of Iraq by saying that Saddam Hussain had weapons of mass destruction (WMD). There was very little evidence of any WMD before the invasion and whatever evidence existed seemed tainted or false.
Bush's bluff has continued for years. But now that he is leaving the White House, he has admitted to ABC that there was an "intelligence failure" over the extent of the threat Saddam posed to the US. Bush added that "a lot of people put their reputations on the line ... I wish the intelligence had been different."
Bush's cavalier disregard for evidence and truth also means that future leaders will have to work to a higher standard than before. Bush has destroyed any faith that remained in the elected leaders of America working towards some sort of an honourable code.
When Bush became the US President in January 2001, he had disgracefully little awareness of life outside the US. More understandably, he had no idea that the terrible attacks of September 11, 2001, would plunge him into command of a major turning point for the world.
Nonetheless, Bush chose to respond by launching a "War on Terror", which a large part of the world supported in united revulsion at the terrorist attacks. But Bush's ignorance of the world at large allowed this war to be sidetracked into an invasion of Iraq, and propelled Bush into the ludicrous policy of "pre-emptive regime change", which ended up with the very destructive occupation of Iraq.
If a world leader chooses to use war as a tool of policy, he or she bears a ferocious responsibility to be right. For Bush to turn around after years of death and destruction, and say "Ooops", is outrageous. He should be impeached for misleading the American people, never mind the whole world.
Your comments
He should not only be impeached for misleading the American people, but also be treated as a war criminal and presented to the world court for a suitable sentence.
Stephen
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: December 04, 2008, 10:26
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