The War President

George W. Bush had an opportunity to become one of the most popular presidents in history. George W. Bush had an opportunity to raise the prestige of the United States. George W. Bush had an opportunity to change the course of history. George W. Bush failed - miserably.

The Baby Bush administration wanted to be defined for their wars. Everything was based on war. A war on civil liberties, a war on checks and balances, a war on the lower class, and a war on the truth - oh yeah, and wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.

On February 8, 2004, during an appearance on NBC's Meet the Press with Tim Russert, Georgie boy said, "I'm a war president. I make decisions here in the Oval Office in foreign-policy matters with war on my mind." It wasn't the first time he said it. He admitted during the 2000 campaign.

Of course, Bush doesn't know what he means when he opens his mouth. This past October in Iowa, he said, "You know, when I campaigned here in 2000, I said, I want to be a war President. No President wants to be a war President, but I am one."

Yes, George, you are one, but make no mistake about it, you DO want to be one. Since Sept. 12, 2001, it has been a passion with you. You have allowed the people around you convince you that you're right about Iraq - and you continue to believe in your "mission", even in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary. You believe that force and violence is the answer to everything. Less than a week ago, you admitted that your version of diplomacy comes from the barrel of a gun when you said, "The solution to Iraq - an Iraq that can govern itself, sustain itself and defend itself - is more than a military mission. Precisely the reason why I sent more troops into Baghdad."

Huh? Isn't that a little bit like saying we can end a drought by keeping the rain clouds away?

The VAST majority of the country is opposed to the war in Iraq. Does George Bush listen? No. In fact he still maintains that he doesn't govern according to the will of the people. That's not entirely true - Bush does listen to his base. By his base, I mean the extreme right wing, global domination, wealth over all, constituency.

Rather than listen to the will of the majority and winding this war down, Bush has decided to ramp it up. In fact, as I am writing this, I am listening to Secretary of Defense Gates make it official that tours of duty have been extended to 15 months. And he actually called this "fair".

What does this policy do to our military? I heard a veterans organization representative say just last evening that this policy will lead to family strife, divorce, suicide and demoralization. How ironic is that? After years of saying that we hear at home who have a desire for peace could demoralize the troops, the military itself could erode morale.

Of course, this will be a huge hit on recruitment - which is the reason for tours being lengthened, which leads to fewer recruits, which leads to longer tours, which leads to fewer recruits, etc. It's a never-ending cycle that can only be forestalled by stopping the war or implementing a draft. Of course a draft will only serve to ramp up anti-war sentiment at home.

The saddest part of these extended tours is the simple fact that Bush and his people have decided that this war is going to last well past his current term.

War president indeed. I prefer to call him the death president.