Editorial: Bush and Responsibility

President Bush's acceptance of responsibility for using "bad intelligence" as he took us to war in Iraq is unacceptable. In the 18 month rampup to war, Bush was either: 1. Incompetent or 2. Assuming the role of hear no evil, see no evil 3. Complicit in the use of lies and disinformation to convince the American public to support his invasion of Iraq. Did Bush not have enough commonsense, experience, and understanding of history to know that, as he contemplated the most important decision a President can make, he should ask difficult questions and demand hard answers to ensure information (not intelligence) he was provided was accurate, validated, corroborated, and supported by the intelligence community and the State Department? If he didnt, then he was incompetent. But that isnt the case, because that means Cheney, Rumsfeld, Rice, Powell, Wolfowitz, Tenet, and a multitude of other senior officials would have had to be just as incompetent. That idea simply doesnt float. Did Bush take a hear no evil, see no evil attitude as he moved the nation toward war? That would be an instance of the President knowing questions could be asked but simply refusing to do so. He would have elected to simply accept as truth whatever he was provided by his staff. This wouldnt be incompetence. This would be a case of plausible deniability....everyone said it was true so it must be true. Or was the President directly involved in the lies and disinformation to which the American public was subjected? Did he know it was a sham but elected to do so because he could? Because he knew the American people were in a state of confusion, fear, and anger and could be easily manipulated? One of the above applies. Bad intelligence doesnt. Neither does Bush's contention that other nations (France, England, Germany) also thought Iraq had WMD. Why? Following DESERT STORM and the Iraqi Army not overthrowing Saddam Hussein, the policy he had WMD was used to justify the economic embargo levied against Iraq. Bush was either incompetent during the rampup to invading Iraq or he intentionally elected not to question the information he was provided, or he was directly involved in the use of lies and disinformation to scare the public into supporting his war. Bush is dangerous for the USA and he is dangerous for the international community. Bush (and Cheney, and Rumsfeld, and Rice) should be forced to voluntarily resign or be impeached for high crimes and misdemeanors against the Republic. http://www.blackholenews.com