joe_11 on "Bush's Iraqi endgame"

joe_11 — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 18:28:24 +0100

Interesting thesis: bush and his handlers believe that continuing a strong presence in Iraq will enhance the GOP political/electoral position in the long run . . . because the GOP will be viewed as a strong "war party" that will never relent in the struggle against terrorism. Maybe this should have addressed the growing GOP disaffection with his war policies (and several domestic policies too)? To be convincing it should definitely have addressed the war powers that have been assumed by this administration which include rewriting or ignoring Congressional legislation along with vast powers to intrude upon, arrest, and even torture those suspected of terrorist links whether they be citizens or not. My big fear is that bush/Cheney definitely have a political agenda that involves fundamentally transforming (if not eliminating) what is commonly understood as constitutional government and the rule of law.

Bush's Iraqi endgame, Bob Burnett

robert.cawston@opendemocracy.net — Tue, 17 Jul 2007 11:54:46 +0100

At his press conference on 12 July 2007, President George W Bush gave no indication that he is willing to change his Iraq policy. Indeed, his stolid determination prompted many observers to characterise Bush as "out of touch" or "in denial". Yet, those who've studied this presidency understand that Bush's insistence that progress is being made in Iraq is part and parcel of his endgame strategy: the war won't be lost on his watch.

While it's often noted that Bush is not a student of history, what's usually ignored is the number of Bush confidantes who worked for Richard Nixon. Dick Cheney and Karl Rove, among others, still harbour resentment about Nixon being forced from office. They've studied that ignominious event and concluded Nixon first lost control of his presidency during the war in Vietnam; as a result, they've formulated a set of four rules for Bush's handling of Iraq based upon lessons learned from the Nixon-era Vietnam experience.
Bob Burnett is a writer based in Berkeley, California. He can be reached here

Also by Bob Burnett in openDemocracy:

"A liberal foreign policy for the US: ten maxims"
(27 February 2007)

"America's choice: imperial vs constitutional rule" (10 May 2007)

"The road not taken: the Iraq Study Group" (21 May 2007)

"Alberto Gonzales's cookery lesson"
(30 May 2007)

"Bush's failed freedom agenda"
(25 June 2007)
Forty years on, four rules

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open Democracy News Analysis - Bush's Iraqi endgame, Bob Burnett - Comments

joe_11 on "Bush's Iraqi endgame"

Bush's Iraqi endgame, Bob Burnett