Sunday, January 18, 2009

"W"


In the light of all the celebration surrounding BO's inaugaration, I feel little has been said to properly honor President George W. Bush.

I searched several newspapers, and other publications to find a favorable report of his presidency. I am well aware of the fact that the 'majority of Americans' feel like his presidency is nothing to honor. However, I disagree with the'majority of Americans', and I feel George W. Bush is owed quite a debt of gratitude by this same 'majority.

I did find an article that I agree with...but, it wasn't an American paper...it is The Telegraph in London, England. This was written by Andrew Roberts 1/15/09.
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"In the avalanche of abuse and ridicule that we are witnessing in the media assessments of President Bush's legacy, there are factors that need to be borne in mind if we are to come to a judgment that is not warped by the kind of partisan hysteria that has characterised this issue on both sides of the Atlantic.

The first is that history, by looking at the key facts rather than being distracted by the loud ambient noise of the
24-hour news cycle, will probably hand down a far more positive judgment on Mr Bush's presidency than the immediate, knee-jerk loathing of the American and European elites.

At the time of 9/11, which will forever rightly be regarded as the defining moment of the presidency, history will look in vain for anyone predicting that the Americans murdered that day would be the very last ones to die at the hands of Islamic fundamentalist terrorists in the US from that day to this.

The decisions taken by Mr Bush in the immediate aftermath of that ghastly moment will be pored over by historians for the rest of our lifetimes. One thing they will doubtless conclude is that the measures he took to lock down America's borders, scrutinise travellers to and from the United States, eavesdrop upon terrorist suspects, work closely with international intelligence agencies and take the war to the enemy has foiled dozens, perhaps scores of would-be murderous attacks on America. There are Americans alive today who would not be if it had not been for the passing of the Patriot Act. There are 3,000 people who would have died in the August 2005 airline conspiracy if it had not been for the superb inter-agency co-operation demanded by Bush
after 9/11.

The next factor that will be seen in its proper historical context in years to come will be the true reasons for invading Afghanistan in October 2001 and Iraq in April 2003. The conspiracy theories believed by many (generally, but not always) stupid people – that it was "all about oil", or the securing of contracts for the US-based Halliburton corporation, etc – will slip into the obscurity from which they should never have emerged had it not been for comedian-filmmakers such as Michael Moore.

Instead, the obvious fact that there was a good case for invading Iraq based on 14 spurned UN resolutions, massive human rights abuses and unfinished business following the interrupted invasion of 1991 will be recalled.

Similarly, the cold light of history will absolve Bush of the worst conspiracy-theory accusation: that he knew there were no WMDs in Iraq. History will show that, in common with the rest of his administration, the British Government, Saddam's own generals, the French, Chinese, Israeli and Russian intelligence agencies, and of course SIS and the CIA, everyone assumed that a murderous dictator does not voluntarily destroy the WMD arsenal he has used against his own people. And if he does, he does not then expel the UN weapons inspectorate looking for proof of it, as he did in 1998 and again in 2001.

Mr Bush assumed that the Coalition forces would find mass graves, torture chambers, evidence for the gross abuse of the UN's food-for-oil programme, but also WMDs. He was right about each but the last, and history will place him in the mainstream of Western, Eastern and Arab thinking on the matter.

History will probably, assuming it is researched and written objectively, congratulate Mr Bush on the fact that whereas in 2000 Libya was an active and vicious member of what he was accurately to describe as an "axis of evil" of rogue states willing to employ terrorism to gain its ends, four years later Colonel Gaddafi's WMD programme was sitting behind glass in a museum in Oakridge, Tennessee.

With his characteristic openness and at times almost self-defeating honesty, Mr Bush has been the first to acknowledge his mistakes – for example, tardiness over Hurricane Katrina – but there are some he made not because he was a ranting Right-winger, but because he was too keen to win bipartisan support. The invasion of Iraq should probably have taken place months earlier, but was held up by the attempt to find support from UN security council members, such as Jacques Chirac's France, that had ties to Iraq and hostility towards the Anglo-Americans.

History will also take Mr Bush's verbal fumbling into account, reminding us that Ronald Reagan also mis-spoke regularly, but was still a fine president. The first
MBA president, who had a higher grade-point average at Yale than John Kerry, Mr Bush's supposed lack of intellect will be seen to be a myth once the papers in his Presidential Library in the Southern Methodist University in Dallas are available.

Films such as Oliver Stone's W, which portray him as a spitting, oafish frat boy who eats with his mouth open and is rude to servants, will be revealed by the diaries and correspondence of those around him to be absurd travesties, of this charming, interesting, beautifully mannered history buff who, were he not the most powerful man in the world, would be a fine person to have as a pal.

Instead of Al Franken, history will listen to Bob Geldof praising Mr Bush's efforts over Aids and malaria in Africa; or to Manmohan Singh, the prime minister of India, who told him last week: "The people of India deeply love you." And certainly to the women of Afghanistan thanking him for saving them from Taliban abuse, degradation and tyranny.

When Abu Ghraib is mentioned, history will remind us that it was the Bush Administration that imprisoned those responsible for the horrors. When water-boarding is brought up, we will see that it was only used on three suspects, one of whom was Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, al-Qaeda's chief of operational planning, who divulged vast amounts of information that saved hundreds of innocent lives. When extraordinary renditions are queried, historians will ask how else the world's most dangerous terrorists should have been transported. On scheduled flights?

The credit crunch, brought on by the Democrats in Congress insisting upon home ownership for credit-unworthy people, will initially be blamed on Bush, but the perspective of time will show that the problems at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac started with the deregulation of the Clinton era. Instead Bush's very
un-ideological but vast rescue package of $700 billion (£480 billion) might well be seen as lessening the impact of the squeeze, and putting America in position to be the first country out of recession, helped along by his huge tax-cut packages since 2000.

Sneered at for being "simplistic" in his reaction to 9/11, Bush's visceral responses to the attacks of a fascistic, totalitarian death cult will be seen as having been substantially the right ones.

Mistakes are made in every war, but when virtually the entire military, diplomatic and political establishment in the West opposed it, Bush insisted on the surge in Iraq that has been seen to have brought the war around, and set Iraq on the right path. Today its GDP is 30 per cent higher than under Saddam, and it is free of a brutal dictator and his rapist sons.

The number of American troops killed during the eight years of the War against Terror has been fewer than those slain capturing two islands in the Second World War, and in Britain we have lost fewer soldiers than on a normal weekend on the Western Front. As for civilians, there have been fewer Iraqis killed since the invasion than in 20 conflicts since the Second World War.

Iraq has been a victory for the US-led coalition, a fact that the Bush-haters will have to deal with when perspective finally – perhaps years from now – lends objectivity to this fine man's record."
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I like Mr. Bush, and I think he was a fine President. I felt confident that he sought proper counsel on major decisions...and the highest counsel of all on all decisions. He is a Christian, and not ashamed to say so. I wish him rest and peace in the coming months. And, I wish him proper recognition and honor in coming years.
Thank-you, Mr. Bush, I have been proud to call you my President.

21 comments:

Justabeachkat said...

Bravo! Great post Tonja and one I agree on. I didn't vote for Obama, but I'm praying for him.

Stop by when you get a chance. I've passed along an award to you sweet "B" friend. I'm also asking for some advice.

Hugs!
Kat

Paula V said...

I didn't have time to read this article. What a disgrace and sadness that you had to find such an article written in another country.

I've heard so many say, even if we don't like BO, we need to stand in honor of him and his role as our incoming President. I agree but how come the same respect hasn't been given to Pres. Bush. Personally, I believe there is way too much hipe and attention to BO color and how we are making history. I understand that but shouldn't we focus more on his abilities and what he's going to do for our country.

I will miss Pres. Bush. I think he is an honorable man and a fine President particularly during some very tough years including 9-11.

Thank you for this tribute, Tonja.

Lynn said...

Hello!
My name is Lynn and sometime ago I ran across your blog while surfing others I enjoy that feature home decor, southern living, etc. (I live in Dothan as well!) This is my first time to leave you a comment, but wanted to share a link with you as a fellow Bush supporter. I LOVE President Bush! The disgusting treatment he has received has broken my heart. His response (which is none) speaks volumes of his character. What a decent, loving man and a great American!

Anyway, I read a blog called Flopping Aces, a political blog which has been a strong Bush supporter. They featured a LOVELY post about President Bush this week and I know you would enjoy it. They included lots of pictures and encouraged their readers to share memories and pictures in the comments - oh, it was WONDERFUL! I smiled through tears! I will MISS that man! And I fear for our continued safety and well being in America - and pray Obama has the good sense NOT to dismantle the safety net Bush has put into place to keep America safe. He says he will - I hope not.

The tribute is at:
http://www.floppingaces.net/2009/01/17/bloggers-remember-bush-years-in-images/

I hope you enjoy! There are so many heartwarming pictures... especially spontaneous pictures with children. They are just precious! Be sure to scroll down into the comments after the brief article - lots more pictures there!

Jean said...

That was a great article. Thanks for finding and sharing it.

Anonymous said...

Great article Tonja. Thanks for posting it. My family all supports President Bush and we wish him well.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for your post on W. I have prayed for President Bush during his term and have been fortunte enough to tell him that in person. His response - "Thank you and that's what gets me through a lot of days". I will pray for Obama but I'm not sure if he feels that he needs our prayers.
Kay

Debbie said...

Bravo! Its a shame that came from another country, but I believe he is truly a great president and person. No matter who the president is, I do pray for him. Thanks for a great blog. Debbie

nancygrayce said...

p.s., I also stole the picture....hope you don't mind!

Dawn said...

I love him and Laura and have been so sad for them with all the bashing they have graciously put up with. I wish them the very best as they head back home. I hope they have wonderful years ahead and that history will treat them fairly.

I thank you for running this article - my brother in England believes all of the bad press that W has received over the years, it seems. I wonder if he saw this one. Fabulous article!

Sheryl said...

Amen! Praying for our nation as we turn another page.

p.s. I love the new look of your blog, where have i been??

Needled Mom said...

Thank you for the wonderful read. I, too, think history will end up putting a favorable light on his presidency and I hope he will be around to reap the rewards.

May he be blessed in his "retirement" and find peace that has not been granted to him in office.

Anonymous said...

Hi. I saw your link on Beachkat's blog and when I saw the subject of your post I wanted to come here to see what you had to say. I want you to know that I agree with you completely. It just drives me crazy the way Pres. Bush has been characterized by the liberal media, which is almost 100% of the media with a few exceptions. I love this post and wish everyone in America would read it, but so many people have learned to hate the man that they don't even want to hear anything positive about him or his presidency. What I'm trying to say is Thank You for posting this tribute to a wonderful man.
Sincerely,
Charlotte

Debbie said...

Tonja, Thank you for your words of encouragement. We serve an awesome God and I do expect great things. Keep us in your prayers and visit me anytime. Debbie

Cathy said...

Thank you so much for this article. I read it thru my sister's blog and our family feels the same way about George Bush. Time will tell!!!

Essential Oil Premier University said...

AMEN AND AMEN.

Blessings,

Sher

Jill said...

Loved that! We'll see how long the "hope" lasts now. If I were George and Laura I'd be really glad to be heading back to Texas after 8 LONG years.

Southern Lady said...

Tonja, I, too, wrote a tribute to President Bush, and had a very difficult time finding anything positive about him.

I finally found one, though, and posted an excerpt from it on my "Southern Lagniappe" blog.

I love President and Mrs. Bush and will miss them. I wish them the best and hope they will be happy as they begin their new life back in Texas.

Angela Baylis said...

YES... I LOVE our former President!
I'm praying for President Obama today as well!
Love you,
Angie xoxo

Dianne said...

I am SAD to see Bush out of office too, Tonja. Thanks for finding and posting this article. President Bush, in my opinion, really was left to 'clean up' a lot of messes that started on someone else's watch...unfortunately he's getting the bad rap for them now, but I also believe history will judge him differently, and I can't wait for that day. Thanks for posting this...it's a great article.

Tracey said...

This is a good post. So many people have forgotten that he got our country through one of the most traumatic times ever! I don't feel like he gets the credit he deserves.

windycorner said...

Thanks for sharing this, Tonja. I read the Telegraph everyday for their balanced look at the world's news. Fox News also carried Mr and Mrs Bush flying away from DC as well as arriving in Texas. How long will it take to get back to responsible reporting? Too long, I'm afraid.
Holley