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The Bush Administration and “Foolish Delusions”
The Top Ten “Foolish Delusions” about the Iraq War
By: Matt Fay
In his recent speech before the Israeli parliament – the Knesset – President Bush said that it is a “foolish delusion” to attempt diplomacy with “terrorists and radicals” (more on that subject will be forthcoming). For now, though, I wanted to look at a few of the claims made about the centerpiece of the Bush Administration’s foreign policy – the Iraq War – and about the delusional strategy of invading Iraq in the first place. So to, once again, steal from David Letterman – here are the Top Ten “Foolish Delusions” about the Iraq War…
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 21 May 2008 07:01 )
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My Foreign Policy Team
By: Matt Fay
 “That Lincoln, after winning the presidency, made the unprecedented move to incorporate his eminent rivals into his political family, the cabinet, was evidence of a profound self-confidence and a first indication of what would prove to others a most unexpected greatness.”
- Doris Kearns Goodwin, Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln
As the still young nation entered a time of unprecedented crisis, the new president made a, both morally and politically, courageous move. Lincoln filled his most important cabinet posts with men that not only doubted his intellect and political acumen, but also disliked him personally. Because Lincoln was able to fill his cabinet with bright and capable individuals, regardless of political or personal bias, he is now remembered as the president who preserved the Union – and perhaps as the greatest to occupy the White House.
For the sake of my little exercise here today, let’s assume that the winner of November’s election (in this make-believe world) is…..me. (Oh, and what a wonderful world that would be!). Now, I must go about changing the morally and economically bankrupt foreign policy that has brought the United States to its current state of crisis. I must bring our foreign policies back within Constitutional limits and in line with the wisdom of the Founding Fathers. To accomplish this goal I must surround myself, not with a coterie of “Yes Men,” but instead with capable individuals willing to question accepted wisdom, with the moral courage to oppose me when I am doing something stupid, and to present me with strategies that protect the American people and the rights that make this country worth defending.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 29 April 2008 15:36 )
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Warmongers Anonymous
A 12 Step Program for Supporters of the Iraq War
By: Matt Fay
Today marks the 5th anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. The Bush Administration, its neoconservative allies, its congressional supporters, and the acquiescent mainstream media need to take this week as an opportunity for critical self-examination. It is time for them to face the fact that they have a problem, an addiction to this war. Here are just a few of the signs and examples:
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Defensiveness, temper tantrums, resentful behavior – i.e. the labeling of those who oppose the war as defeatists, unpatriotic, “blame America first” types, or saying that they don’t “support the troops”
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Unexplained moodiness or irritability – i.e. Dick Cheney
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Violent temper or bizarre behavior – i.e. John McCain, John Bolton, or most all neoconservatives
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Excessive need for privacy; secretive or suspicious behavior – i.e. the perversion of the States Secrets Act, the misuse of Executive Privilege, or the secrecy surrounding Dick Cheney’s 2001 Energy Task Force
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Paranoia or suspicious behavior – i.e. the neoconservative contention that the intelligence community purposely misled the county about the threat Iraq posed to embarrass the Bush administration
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Unexplained silliness or giddiness – i.e. President Bush
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Chronic dishonesty – i.e. the non-existent WMDs, links between Saddam Hussein and 9/11, and the claim President Bush continues to make that Saddam Hussein refused to allow UN weapons inspectors into Iraq
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Unexplained need for money, can’t explain where the money goes, stealing – i.e. the $12 billion dollars in cash “lost” by Paul Bremer’s Coalition Provisional Authority following the invasion, the 190,000 missing weapons meant for the Iraqi army, and the use of “emergency supplementals” in an attempt to bypass congressional oversight into funding the continuing occupation
These are serious problems. There are those who have found help for alcohol, drug, and other problems through 12 step programs. As this war enters its sixth year of existence the people who still support it need to take the time to look in the mirror and realize the destruction this ill-advised war has caused and start doing the things necessary to remedy that:
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 19 March 2008 07:47 )
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By: Matt Fay
During a briefing, Thursday, regarding the progress of the war in Afghanistan President Bush made an interesting confession. “I must say I’m a little envious,” Bush said according to the Herald Sun. He continued,
“If I were slightly younger and not employed here, I think it would be a fantastic experience to be on the front lines of helping this young democracy succeed. It must be exciting for you…in some ways romantic, in some ways, you know, confronting danger. You’re really making history, and thanks.”
A quote like this makes me wonder what First Lady Laura Bush received as a Valentine’s Day gift last month…..a gift basket full of grenades perhaps?
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Last Updated ( Monday, 17 March 2008 06:56 )
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Bring the Boys Back Home Five reasons the War on Terrorism will never be won with foreign invasions By M. Harrison Osama bin Laden and all al-Qaida leadership that aided in the 9/11 attacks should be vanquished. We can also protect our homeland from the next terrorist attack. But none of this requires America to invade a single foreign nation, and here are the five reasons why. |
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Last Updated ( Monday, 10 March 2008 13:27 )
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Between A Bullet and A Target How America's foreign policy is making the US less safe in the war on terrorism By M. Harrison "And we fight today because terrorists want to attack our country and kill our citizens, and Iraq is where they are making their stand. So we'll fight them there, we'll fight them across the world, and we will stay in the fight until the fight is won." (Applause.) -- President George W. Bush " Despite plenty of muscular rhetoric, President Bush's strategy in the War on Terrorism demonstrates a dangerous ignorance of the unique military, tactical, and political aspects of the terrorist threat, and breeds a dangerous and chaotic foreign policy which has only served to put our nation in greater danger. |
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Last Updated ( Monday, 04 February 2008 20:50 )
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