On Bush's June 28th, 2005 Speech
The following is my opinion and critique of Bush's speech to the
American people. Bush's quotations are each followed by my
commentary.
Bush did it again. Trying his best to persuade and
propagandize, defend his ego, justify his presidential mandated
invasion of a nation and the subsequent needless deaths of our
American service men and women, as well as the tens of thousands
of Iraqi civilian deaths, Bush's speech resulted not in a strong
reinforcement of how he had duped the American people before but
a pathetic manipulative appeal again to fear.
"My greatest responsibility as president is to protect the
American people..."
Failed responsibility. In my opinion, America and our way of
life is less protected now than ever before, for rather than
focusing the billions of dollars and expertise of American
military men and women on strengthening our nation's internal
defense, Bush has instead wasted enormous resources (including
American lives which are far more precious than any amount of
wasted money) in pursuit of his and thereby other's (corporate)
domination/control agenda of the Middle East...meanwhile leaving
the American people less protected (compared to the security
measures we could have implemented) and simultaneously
increasing our enemies worldwide by the millions. It's like a
hornet's nest...Bush has beaten the hornet's nest with a
stick...and now they (our enemies) are swarming enraged and
ready to sting.
In my opinion, Bush cares nothing about protecting the American
people, he is a narcissistic greed-driven puppet...he could not
care less about the protection of the American people...in my
opinion, he cares about protecting special corporate interests
not the interests of we the people. His behavior speaks louder
than any of his words.
True-- it is Bush's greatest responsibility to protect the
American people-- and in that he has failed miserably.
"The terrorists who attacked us and the terrorists we face
murder in the name of a totalitarian ideology that hates
freedom, rejects tolerance and despises all dissent. Their aim
is to remake the Middle East in their own grim image of tyranny
and oppression by toppling governments, driving us out of the
region and exporting terror."
From the Iraqi civilian perspective: parents grieving the death
of their children, spouses mourning the loss of their loved one,
these are people who can also say "The terrorists who attacked
us and the terrorists we face murder in the name of a
totalitarian ideology that hates freedom, rejects tolerance and
despises all dissent. Their aim is to remake the Middle East in
their own grim image of tyranny and oppression by toppling
governments, driving us out of the region and exporting terror."
Bush (in the name of all of us as Americans) attacked Iraqi
cities resulting in the deaths of thousands of civilians...It is
the Bush administration that ironically kills civilians in the
name of "freedom" while taking away more and more American
freedoms, while rejecting tolerance and whose supporters despise
dissent of the American people who dare to question the emperor
and his court. A republic and democratic nation as ours should
not engage in empire building by toppling governments, driving
out and killing other nation's inhabitants, exporting terror
(what else would you call what is happening to the Iraqi people
but terror? Imagine living in your home fearful of the next
bomb...fearful of your home being invaded by soldiers who may
take away a family member...the people in Iraq are the same as
you and I...they seek to live their lives in their "homeland"
free from tyrannical invasion and the death and destruction such
invaders bring.) What is the result? Ask yourself how you would
feel and react if your home and family were under constant siege
and threat of death because of outside invaders...would it make
you welcome them or enraged at them? It is right to defend
America, but what Bush and his gang is doing is not defense.
Terror, regardless of who uses it, only begets more violence.
Unjustified violence from America provokes violence upon us.
Terrorism whether by others toward the US or from the US toward
others is always wrong.
"The terrorists believe that free societies are essentially
corrupt and decadent, and with a few hard blows they can force
us to retreat."
Based on the way the Bush administration runs this country,
others worldwide have every reason to believe America is
essentially corrupt and decadent...how many Iraqis would never
have become "terrorists" if not provoked by Bush's unjustified
invasion of their country. In my opinion, the American people
are being lied to...then the world...only the world has been
quicker to see Bush (and those who support him) for what he
is...a tyrant. Of course, the terrorists who wish to hurt
America may feel that "with a few hard blows they can force us
to retreat," because Bush's misuse of our military might is in
essence a sign of weakness. Bush is a weak man using the might
of a great nation to feed his ego agenda...this results in
others worldwide viewing America as corrupt...my opinion is that
our current foreign policy under the Bush administration is
corrupt, for it is an imperialistic policy which goes against
every value America used to stand for. Even others worldwide can
identify such a moral weakness...and such weakness always
marches to defeat.
"Many terrorists who kill innocent men, women and children on
the streets of Baghdad are followers of the same murderous
ideology that took the lives of our citizens in New York,
Washington and Pennsylvania. There is only one course of action
against them: to defeat them abroad before they attack us at
home."
Twisted "logic." Bush is admitting those in Baghdad he calls
"terrorists" are not the ones responsible for the horrific 9-11
attack on Americans...Bush says they believe the same, though
they are not responsible...thus, Bush says because he thinks
they believe the same as those who committed the crime, even
though they did not commit the crime, they should be held
responsible and punished. Bush's illogic continues, predicated
on his assertion people who he thinks believe the same are to be
regarded as if they did do it, then Bush rationalizes killing
them in their home to make sure they don't ever decide to kill
us. Bush's rationale of "defeat them abroad before they attack
us at home" is a dangerous precedent which I think he will
continue to endlessly use to "justify" future attacks on other
sovereign nations.
"Some wonder whether Iraq is a central front in the war on
terror. Among the terrorists, there is no debate. Hear the words
of Osama Bin Laden: "This Third World War is raging" in Iraq.
"The whole world is watching this war." He says it will end in
"victory and glory or misery and humiliation."
Iraq is NOW a central front, because Bush has used America to
make it so. Yes, it will end in either "victory and glory or
misery and humiliation"...and I do not believe the
oppressors/invaders will "win." There is no such thing as a
"war" on anything. Sadly, the American government uses the word
"war" to manipulate our thinking ... such as "war on drugs,"
"war on terror," to try and create justification and support
from the American people. To even begin to accept the word "war"
in such a context is ludicrous...there will always be drugs,
there will always be terrorism - domestic and
international...our nation cannot and does not wage war on an
object...we can only wage war against an enemy
government...thus, the use of the word is to manipulate you into
feeling patriotism and a need to support the values of
America...when in actuality it has nothing to do with the best
interests of America...we are not engaged in any war...in my
opinion, we are as a nation engaged in hostile aggression to
feed the needs of a president with an agenda to benefit those
who benefit from the aggression.
But if we use the word "war" now to mean any military
aggression (rather than a legitimate use of military power
against a government), I think as a nation America will sadly
suffer "misery and humiliation" all because of Bush.
"So they are waging a campaign of murder and destruction. And
there is no limit to the innocent lives they are willing to
take."
Bush means "they" the "terrorists." But it is just as true to
say that Bush is waging a campaign of murder and destruction on
the people of Iraq. And there is "no limit to the innocent lives
Bush is willing to take." Sadly, Bush represents America...so
those worldwide view America (as they must since he is
president) as being the great evil empire waging a campaign of
murder and destruction without regard to loss of innocent lives.
"Setting an artificial timetable would send the wrong message to
the Iraqis, who need to know that America will not leave before
the job is done."
Bush's ego will not admit his mistake. As for a "job" "being
done," Bush's "war on terror" will never be done...it is
endless...terrorism will always exist...thus, under Bush's
control the "war" will continue....Americans will continue to
die overseas if Bush adheres to such an absurd policy of waging
"war" against "terrorism." It is merely the excuse, packaged and
delivered to you in speech after speech, that this "war" will
end... It will not. "Terrorism" was the word chosen to "wage
war" on because it conveniently gives Bush a reason to try and
justify aggressive action using American lives and deaths for
his own end. Bush will try to use this excuse to get your
continued support for his war on Iraq as well as future attacks
on other countries. The end does not justify the means. And "the
end" Bush tells you he's sending our American men and women to
fight and die for is not, I believe, the "end" or goal he's
really after.
"We know that if evil is not confronted, it gains in strength
and audacity and returns to strike us again. We know that when
the work is hard, the proper response is not retreat, it is
courage. And we know that this great ideal of human freedom is
entrusted to us in a special way and that the ideal of liberty
is worth defending."
First, I agree with this statement when applied to what we the
American people must do to protect our best interests against
those who would adulterate, twist, and eliminate our
constitutional basis of government. We cannot retreat. We must
have courage for the work is hard... to demand that Bush (and
all those complicit in his evil) stop their unjustified
aggression against Iraq and others they may plan to overthrow.
Our proper response when faced with an administration committing
evil is to expose it and demand a change in policy or else it
will gain strength, audacity, and will continue to erode our
American freedoms, rights, and reputation for good around the
world. America is no longer respected as it once was...Americans
must speak out for what they see happening and let the world
know that our president's actions do not reflect our wishes...
We must demand the republic be returned to us. Liberty? Ideal of
freedom? These are not ideas to be fought "for" in Iraq...but
ideals that once defined America that must be reclaimed on our
soil for us--the American people...they are the ideas you, as an
American, must defend. "Liberty" is worth defending -- true.
There is a big difference between defense and offensive
attacks...we are not "defending" liberty in Iraq...we are
tyrannically invading another nation unrelated to the 9-11
attack on us.
"And the best way to honor the lives that have been given in
this struggle is to complete the mission."
False. Easy for Bush to say. Translation: The best way for Bush
to save face and to try and complete his mission is to allow
more American men and women to die for his sake. "Honor" is not
a value Bush comprehends much less exhibits...it is a word he
uses because he knows good people relate to it.
"When the history of this period is written, the liberation of
Afghanistan and the liberation of Iraq will be remembered as
great turning points in the story of freedom."
False. When the history of this period is written, it will be
remembered as dark days under a bad president who used
American's love of freedom to manipulate them to give their
lives for his own power. The "wars" raged by Bush will be
rejected as unjustified imperialistic throes of a president who
misused the power entrusted to him. I believe Bush will go down
in history as one of the worst presidents America has ever had.