President George W. Bush left office in 2009 and has been staying low since then for some good reasons. With another critical Presidential election imminent, let me correctly assess his 8-year Presidency, highlighted as follows:
- President Bush II is the world’s #1 war criminal this century!
- History will not be kind to him!
Now, let me break it down into the good, the bad, and the ugly …
1. President Bush II: the good
9/11!
His initial response to the September 11 attacks was good. For example, on October 7, 2001, America invaded Afghanistan (War in Afghanistan) to go after Osama bin Laden, the mastermind behind the 9/11 attack, which was correct.
2. President Bush II: the bad
9/11!
On September 20, 2001, he declared the War on Terror (On This Day: President Bush Declares “War-on-Terror”), perpetually putting America in an unwinnable war.
3. President Bush II: the ugly
Unfortunately for President Bush II, by the summer of 2002, it became obvious that the War in Afghanistan was not easily winnable, which could have jeopardized his 2004 re-election bid. Something bigger had to be done to turn the public’s attention away from Afghanistan – Iraq was chosen! To me (in a Sherlock Holmes style), that was the real reason behind the Iraq War, timely launched in March 2003.
In other words, Iraq was merely a casualty of American politics at the time. However, it was billed by the Bush administration as an extension of the response to the 9/11 attack – Totally illogical and wrong! It is like America attacking Canada as a response to the Pearl Harbor attack. Two facts:
- Iraq was not part of the 9/11 attack.
- Saddam Hussein was not even friendly with Osama bin Laden, and there was no al-Qaeda in Iraq before the Iraq War.
Everything went wrong for America from there on, including the War in Afghanistan, which lasted for 20 years! But why bother? Bush II was re-elected in 2004!
For a comprehensive review of the Iraq War, including what happened inside the Bush administration, especially the lack of planning about governing after toppling the Saddam regime, watch this video: Losing Iraq.
Another example: President Bush II presided over the NATO: 2008 Bucharest summit, hugely expanding NATO, which eventually led to the coup in Ukraine in 2014!
4. It is the political system, stupid!
Simply put, President Bush II was just yet another victim of our failing political system. Two examples:
- Getting re-elected ad nauseam! For President Bush II, everything was used as a tool for his 2004 re-election bid, even if it meant destroying a country like Iraq.
- Bush II following Bush I into the Oval Office is a modern-day example of nepotism! In other words, there would have been no President Bush II without President Bush I. Moreover, just like most examples of nepotism, the son is not as good as the father!
5. Discussion
The Iraq War was a huge mistake by America. Who made that mistake specifically? President Bush II? Perhaps, but he was not a dictator. Who has been held accountable? No one, yet. Two calls:
- War Criminals Among Us: Bush, Cheney, and the Eyes of the world.
- Desmond Tutu calls for Blair and Bush to be tried over Iraq.
Oh, BTW, has Tony Blair had a change of heart yet?
Yes! Here is a 2016 news story: Tony Blair: ‘I express more sorrow, regret and apology than you can ever believe’.
What about Bush II?
No, no word of any change yet.
6. Closing
Time is the best judge for everything, including American Presidents. But the sooner we can do it for President Bush II, the better for America!
Bush II is the world’s #1 war criminal this century!
For more, read History 2.0 – China’s Comeback vs. America’s Decline.
