The Bush Thread

[chamber-music]

Feature: Iraqis say farewell to George W. Bush
javascript:doPrint();




BAGHDAD, You are a liar and a war criminal! Farewell!" blurted Muhammad al-Salami, a professor in Baghdad University, infuriated by the TV footage of the outgoing U.S. President George W. Bush who was giving a farewell speech after eight years in office.
Others in the professor's office simply sneered or just kept silence.

"Every time when I see Bush on TV, I get angry. He was behind hundreds of thousands of crimes against Iraqi people during the past eight years of his ruling," said al-Salami.

Bush waged a global War on Terrorism after 9.11 incident, and asserted that an "axis of evil," consisting of North Korea, Iran, and Iraq was "arming to threaten the peace of the world."

He launched the war with an invasion of Iraq on March 20, 2003,which led to the quick defeat and the eventual execution of Saddam Hussein.

More than 600,000 Iraqi civilians have been killed in the U.S.-led war. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) also said two million Iraqis had fled to neighboring countries.

To some Iraqis, Bush, a symbol of U.S. hegemony, is a night marejust as the war aftermath is to himself, for not only their nation but also their dreams are simply shattered relentlessly.

"His war on Iraq was based on false pretexts, that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and relations with Osama Bin Laden and his al-Qaida network," said Professor Salami.

He added that "Iraqis will never forget Bush's crimes, at least they put a farewell kiss on his face by Muntazer al-Zaidi," the Iraqi journalist who threw his shoes at Bush during a news conference at the end of last year.

Udai al-Zaidi, brother of Muntazer al-Zaidi "agreed with the professor's opinion. "My brother's reaction was the best expression for the pains that Iraqis feel toward Bush. The curse of Iraqis and their shoes will continue chasing him even after he leaves his post on Jan. 20 and even until the last minute of his life," he told Xinhua in a telephone interview.

Hadil Imad, a newly-wed Iraqi female television producer who was shot by U.S. soldiers on the New Year's day, also told Xinhua ironically that "I'd like to say, thank you Mr. Bush for your farewell gift, two bullets, to me. It's one of many unforgettable gifts that you offered to Iraqis." The lady still suffers her pain both physically and mentally in a local hospital.

Many Iraqis who had dreamed for the change of life after the downfall of Saddam Hussein are very disappointed with Bush. Some of them even once viewed Bush as a so-called liberator several years ago.
Lamei Al-Naqdi, 79-year-old from al-Karada neighborhood in Baghdad, said "the liberation and democratization of Iraq is a biglie."

"Today's democracy is only among the politicians. I have never witnessed sectarian differentiation and violence among Iraqis as I see in recent years," he added.

There is a sense of frustration and humiliation that many Iraqis feel at the presence of U.S. troops on their soil for years. Under the U.S.-Iraq Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), Iraq has gained more oversight over the more than 140,000 U.S. troops now on the ground, representing a step toward a somewhat so called full sovereignty for the war-shattered nation U.S. had promised.

However, Iraqis are skeptical toward deals between Baghdad and Washington.

Iraqi Kurds thanks Bush for the overthrow of Saddam Hussein's regime. But Dilshad Hassan, a 45-year-old Kurdish businessman in Baghdad, said "Iraq has been destroyed entirely by the war. Consequences for the country and the world are catastrophic in terms of Bush's policy. That's why whatever he says to reconstruct Iraq and spread democracy is false."

Some Iraqis still have mixed emotions over Bush and his war. They are worried about that the withdraw of U.S. forces will drag Iraq into a new round of violence and bloody battles.

According to the SOFA, all U.S. combat troops must pull out of Iraqi cities by the end of June and leave the country entirely by the end of 2011.

An Iraqi journalist, who spoke on condition of anonymity, described his shock on the U.S. troops withdraw timetable as if somebody had showered him with chilled water.

"How could Americans just leave like this?" he asked and added, "They must pay for the loss of Iraq."

Two days later, Bush will step down to make way for Barack Obama and his mantle of change. It's a moment a lot of Iraqis have been waiting for. Will the inauguration of Obama who promised to withdraw from Iraq in 16 months be the dawning of a new age for the war-torn country?

People across the country are trying to absorb the meaning for the country and their own futures.

"I hope Obama will correct the negative results Bush made. Iraq should be a country as wealthy as Gulf countries because we have oil, agriculture and splendid civilization," said Abass Majeed, a 38-year-old taxi driver from Sadr City in Baghdad. But Iman Khalil, a 52-year-old widow, does not agree with him. "We will see no basic change between Bush and Obama. All U.S. presidents are the same: To protect Israel and plunder Iraq's oil reserves," she said emotionally. (Jamal Hashim and Wsiam Habib also contributed to this feature story)

The more you know

 

[StorminNorman]

Norman, America's lack of concern over it will hit home if such an epidemic makes its way over here. AIDS relief isn't just about "compassion" for other people, it's also about our own well-being.

Whether American's lack of concern for African Aids victims is wise or not is irrelevant - I think most Americans would be confused if not angry that we have spent billions upon billions in Africa treating AIDS when the disease is here in our country.


My personal view is the same as yours - but I don't think its an issue that is going to really impact Bush's legacy simply because I don't think the issue has the power to do so.

 

[redfirebird2008]

Whether American's lack of concern for African Aids victims is wise or not is irrelevant - I think most Americans would be confused if not angry that we have spent billions upon billions in Africa treating AIDS when the disease is here in our country.


My personal view is the same as yours - but I don't think its an issue that is going to really impact Bush's legacy simply because I don't think the issue has the power to do so.

Bill Frist, former Republican Senate majority leader and a doctor who goes to Africa every year to help the people, wrote an article recently for CNN about this and he stated that Bush's AIDS relief has already saved 10 million people and will continue to save millions more. He made the point, "How many Presidents can you say for certain that they've saved at least 10 million people?" I think it will be a strong legacy for him.

 

[BobJM]

I could never fathom why people wanted to go to war in Iraq when it was so obvious we weren't finished in Afghanistan.

In regards to Marx's article above, I can't believe that 31% of Americans consider Bush's presidency to have been successful. Successful in what?

America hasn't suffered another terrorist attack.

 

[The Major]

I'd be interested to see some good sources on all of that.....interesting reading.

But, please stay away from the conspiracy theory blogs, I won't waste my time on those...

I saw those in reports on CNN and MSNBC.

 

[The Major]

America hasn't suffered another terrorist attack.

America suffered at least one major attack after 9/11. The anthrax killer who was never found. 9/11 itself is an unprecedented attack on America. Japan only got to Hawaii, al queda got to New York City.

 

[The Major]

Bill Frist, former Republican Senate majority leader and a doctor who goes to Africa every year to help the people, wrote an article recently for CNN about this and he stated that Bush's AIDS relief has already saved 10 million people and will continue to save millions more. He made the point, "How many Presidents can you say for certain that they've saved at least 10 million people?" I think it will be a strong legacy for him.

The same Frist who thought Terri Schaivo wasn't brain-dead?

 

[StorminNorman]

America suffered at least one major attack after 9/11. The anthrax killer who was never found. 9/11 itself is an unprecedented attack on America. Japan only got to Hawaii, al queda got to New York City.

The Anthrax Killer was found dead a while ago.

 

[redfirebird2008]

The same Frist who thought Terri Schaivo wasn't brain-dead?

Yep, same guy. Pretty staggering contradiction eh?

 

[The Major]

The Anthrax Killer was found dead a while ago.

They never proved he was the anthrax killer.

Nor did they make it a high priority after the attacks stopped. The media and government hadn't done anything about it for years until suddenly some random scientist ends up dead under suspicious circumstances.

 

[StorminNorman]

They never proved he was the anthrax killer.

Nor did they make it a high priority after the attacks stopped. The media and government hadn't done anything about it for years until suddenly some random scientist ends up dead under suspicious circumstances.

Your grasping at straws and simply wrong on the facts.


The FBI has conclusive evidence including DNA evidence proving Dr. Bruce Ivins was the anthrax killer.



http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/08/03/anthrax.case/index.html


A scientist and colleague of Ivins was able to connect the Anthrax used to Ivins.



http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,342852,00.html


And the FBI had a motive. Ivins helped create an Anthrax Vaccine and hoped the attacks would provide proper incentive to put the vaccine in mass production making him a rather rich man.


Also considering the investigation led to finding the killer, and was very active since 2001, your accusation that it was not a "high priority" seems incredibly false. Just because its not constantly in the news does not mean it is not a high priority.

 

[BestGirl]

An increase in AIDS relief to Africa and no major terrorist attacks since 9/11 aren't enough for me to call his presidency successful, but whatever. *shrugs*

And the FBI had a motive. Ivins helped create an Anthrax Vaccine and hoped the attacks would provide proper incentive to put the vaccine in mass production making him a rather rich man.

Sounds like a supervillain's plan in a comic.

 

[StorminNorman]

Sounds like a supervillain's plan in a comic.

Art frequently mimics reality.

 

[Kelly]

An increase in AIDS relief to Africa and no major terrorist attacks since 9/11 aren't enough for me to call his presidency successful, but whatever. *shrugs*



Sounds like a supervillain's plan in a comic.

I don't think anyone here said that it did....it was simply mentioned as something that "was" positive....

 

[Addendum]

Art frequently mimics reality.

Art better quit tracing

 

[Heretic]

How is 911 unprecendented???

Not only had Muslims attacked America before, they attacked THE WORLD TRADE CENTER before.

Oh yeah...that was on clintons watch so it doesnt count.

Embassy bombings by muslim terrorists? Um...Clinton was president, so we did nothing.

American navy ship attacked by muslim terrorists? Clinton was president so we did nothing.

At least Bush did something about it. America was attacked by Muslim terrorists three times under Clinton and we did absolutely nothing about it.

So knock it off with your "Bush isnt keeping us safe enough" crap. Where was your anger at Clinton?

 

[hippie_hunter]

An increase in AIDS relief to Africa and no major terrorist attacks since 9/11 aren't enough for me to call his presidency successful, but whatever. *shrugs*

I wouldn't call Bush's Presidency successful, but he isn't a failure either. He has some things to be proud of at least like how much ocean he's preserved, his efforts to help Africa, deposing Saddam Hussein and at least given the Iraqi people an oppourtunity to decide their own fate, and of course he managed to prevent another major terrorist attack on American soil.

It's rather unfortunate that he has just as many blunders that are as big such as his poor response to efforts in Hurricane Katrina, piss poor planning in his invasion of Iraq causing it to be completely chaotic after Saddam Hussein was deposed, tarnishing the GOP brand, and appointing incompetent people like Donald Rumsfeld and Brownie in positions of actual importance.

 

[redfirebird2008]

I wouldn't call Bush's Presidency successful, but he isn't a failure either. He has some things to be proud of at least like how much ocean he's preserved, his efforts to help Africa, deposing Saddam Hussein and at least given the Iraqi people an oppourtunity to decide their own fate, and of course he managed to prevent another major terrorist attack on American soil.

It's rather unfortunate that he has just as many blunders that are as big such as his poor response to efforts in Hurricane Katrina, piss poor planning in his invasion of Iraq causing it to be completely chaotic after Saddam Hussein was deposed, tarnishing the GOP brand, and appointing incompetent people like Donald Rumsfeld and Brownie in positions of actual importance.

And Alberto Gonzalez, who incidentally can't find a job right now.

 

[Sebastos]

Two more days till the cynical party leaves office.

 

[Heretic]

theres a big difference between optimism and pie in the sky platitudes.

 

[Marx]

America hasn't suffered another terrorist attack.

You do realize that 9/11 took a very long time to plan...right?

 

[souvlaki]

America hasn't suffered another terrorist attack.

That means absolutely nothing. How many terrorist attacks on the same scale as 9/11 did we have before 2001? And of the few that we've had (which were not nearly as big as the one that happened on Bush's watch), how many multiple attacks happened within a span of seven years?

 

[Heretic]

That means absolutely nothing. How many terrorist attacks on the same scale as 9/11 did we have before 2001? And of the few that we've had (which were not nearly as big as the one that happened on Bush's watch), how many multiple attacks happened within a span of seven years?

As i stated, we had three terrorist attacks on Clintons watch (4 if you counted Oklahoma City...which many do count as a Muslim attack).

So, yeah...4...and we did nothing about it except arrest a few people. Much easier to wash your hands of international terrorism when you dont admit that it even exists.

 

[Kelly]

Well the Twin Towers in 93 was supposed to be as big as 9/11.....they just screwed it up....thankfully.

 

[Addendum]

As i stated, we had three terrorist attacks on Clintons watch (4 if you counted Oklahoma City...which many do count as a Muslim attack).

Tim McVeigh is a muslim now?