Zbigniew Brzezinski: George W. Bush's suicidal statecraft

[highplainsdem]

Damning assessment of Bush's policies by Jimmy Carter's national security adviser.

http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/10/13/opinion/edzbig.php


George W. Bush's suicidal statecraft
Zbigniew Brzezinski
THURSDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2005

WASHINGTON Sixty years ago, Arnold Toynbee concluded, in his monumental "A Study of History," that the ultimate cause of imperial collapse was "suicidal statecraft." Sadly for President George W. Bush's place in history but - much more important - ominously for America's future, it has lately seemed as if that adroit phrase might be applicable to the policies pursued by the United States since the cataclysm of 9/11.

<snip>

In a very real sense, during the last four years, the Bush team has thus been dangerously undercutting America's seemingly secure perch on top of the global totem pole by transforming a manageable, though serious, challenge largely of regional origin into an international debacle.

To be sure, since America is extraordinarily powerful and rich, it can afford, yet for a while, even a policy articulated with rhetorical excess and pursued with historical blindness. But in the process America is likely to become isolated in a hostile world, increasingly vulnerable to terrorist acts and less and less able to exercise a constructive global influence.

Flaying away with a stick at a hornets' nest while loudly proclaiming "I will stay the course" is an exercise in catastrophic leadership.

<snip>

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

1. Brzezinski is just ticked off because Bush has taken some of his plan

"The Grand Chess Board" and has totally screwed it up.

[DS1]

2. Bush is more comfortable with dice

He can leave it all up to God that way

[burythehatchet]

3. precisely. These are the people most angry with him

because their plan got screwed up. Like that was unexpected.

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

5. If you hitch your wagon to someone who has Always been a Dismal Failure,

what would you expect to happen???

[glitch]

4. Ain't that the truth.

Your legacy reeks zbiggie.

[DistressedAmerican]

6. Oddly I Utter The Following Words Quite Frequently...

I Love Zbigniew Brzezinski!
I Love Zbigniew Brzezinski!
I Love Zbigniew Brzezinski!
I Love Zbigniew Brzezinski!
I Love Zbigniew Brzezinski!
I Love Zbigniew Brzezinski!
I Love Zbigniew Brzezinski!
I Love Zbigniew Brzezinski!
I Love Zbigniew Brzezinski!
I Love Zbigniew Brzezinski!

Since most Americans probably do not even remember who he is, I think my strong feelings make me some sort of serious geek!

[midnight armadillo]

9. Do you love his Afghanistan policy?

Many thousands of dead people would like to know...

[WeHoldTheseTruths]

7. Brzezinski doesn't want any kind of

victory in Iraq. He wants perpetual war.

Haven't read it yet but I know that and will take it into account as I do.

Brzezinski is not a patriot, to say the least.

[highplainsdem]

8. From a Jan. 2005 LA Times article archived at Common Dreams:

http://www.commondreams.org/headlines05/0107-03.htm


Brzezinski agreed that Bush should make a renewed push for international troops that could significantly swell the overall security force in Iraq. If no other countries are willing to participate at meaningful levels, he said, the U.S. should begin withdrawing its troops from the country this year.

If large numbers of U.S. forces remain in Iraq without more international support, Brzezinski said, "we will be viewed eventually as the other side of the coin of the Israeli occupation of the Palestinians."

[elehhhhna]

10. Jeez, Zig. Ya THINK?