Stars & Stripes letter: Bush -- "the worst president in U.S. history"

[lebkuchen]

This letter made both the European and Pacific editions of Stripes in the same day, which is unusual. Do I detect an eagerness on the part of Stripes editors to dump the Chimp-in-Chief? At least Condi is assured of reading material on her surprise visit to Iraq.

Bush’s sorry legacy

Three years after “shock and awe,” now it’s called “the Long War,” just as the CATO Institute in 2003 said it would be.

Last month, President Bush casually informed Americans that troops would remain there past his second term, which ends on Jan. 20, 2009, and not a moment too soon. What a disaster Bush will leave Americans when calculating the costs of his generational commitment to “democratize” the Middle East. Columbia and Harvard economics professors estimate the U.S. invasion/occupation of Iraq through 2010 will cost taxpayers $1 trillion, minimum.

In “The True Costs of the Iraq War,” Joseph Stiglitz (Columbia University professor of economics) states, “One cannot help but wonder: Were there alternative ways of spending a fraction of the war’s $1-$2 trillion in costs that would have better strengthened security, boosted prosperity, and promoted democracy?”

And spared lives? Clearly, but at a loss of billions in contracts to Halliburton/KBR, Bechtel and the Carlyle Group, of which George H.W. Bush is senior adviser. If it weren’t for war, the Bush family empire would be bankrupt. Self-enrichment is why Bush and (British Prime Minister) Tony Blair were determined to launch an invasion against Iraq. That’s why Iran is next.

Bush has said that he wouldn’t be in Iraq if not for a good reason. Bush isn’t in Iraq, and neither are members of his family. Some soldiers are on their third deployment and wish to be liberated from stop loss. Bush likely won’t initiate a “front-door” draft before the elections, which means more troop deployments until help — a new Congress and commander in chief — arrives.

Bush’s policy of touting peace and democracy while dropping bombs on oil-producing countries and promoting crony capitalism in an America deteriorating into a feudal backwater will be Bush’s legacy as the worst president in U.S. history.

http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=125&article=36207

[Canuckistanian]

1. I'm pretty sure Condi will be handed a copy.

Don't hear much rah-rah from the top brass these days, do we?

[FormerRepublican]

2. Wow - what a powerful letter!!

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. The next one's good too

UCMJ helps ensure loyalty

Letters referencing the Uniform Code of Military Justice and political protest remind me of 1996 and 2000. I wonder where these self-righteous enforcers stood then.

I recall entering my work center at a joint service unit in 1996 to find an Army noncommissioned officer lecturing my troops to the effect that, if the election did not kick President Clinton out, he and a half million other soldiers knew how to “finish the job.” He was surprised to find that an Air Force senior NCO knew how to “lock heels.” The most disturbing part was that his command dismissed it, saying that it didn’t see any harm in his attitude.

I also remember talking with my division chief in late 2000 who stated to me and others that he was afraid of only one thing in that election: that George W. Bush would win the popular vote but not the Electoral College. He said if that happened, he expected the military to “step in” and set things right. He reacted with indignation when I informed him that such talk was treason and he questioned my loyalties. Not surprisingly, he did not advocate armed insurrection when what he feared did happen, only not to the guy he was supporting.

If criticizing the administration is wrong now, how many were guilty of doing it during Clinton’s administration?

The reason for UCMJ directives regarding political activities is to ensure loyalty is maintained to the mission. It shouldn’t matter which party is in charge. The prerequisites of the mission are independent of individual political affiliation.

By the same token, the activities of military personnel should never cast into doubt their ability to follow the directives of the commander in chief, to either the public or their fellow comrades in arms.

Michael Williams
Baghdad

[lebkuchen]

5. I've added them both to the list of other similar Stripes letters

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/12/18/45138/421

[SeattleGirl]

8. Holy crap! Were these guys saying that the military would

"take out" the President if it turned out to be someone besides Bush????? Oh. My. God.

[lebkuchen]

12. Won't soldiers of their ilk be impressed w/these letters!

Unlike some democrats in Congress, some people aren't afraid to pot-stir and tell it like it is.

The rebuttals should be fun to read. :) If there's going to be a war, let it be one of words.

[proud2BlibKansan]

13. Pretty scary, isn't it?

[SeattleGirl]

17. Extremely scary.

Just what we need -- a bunch of loony military officers talking about taking out the President just because they don't agree with his politics. Sheesh. Makes me really nervous should we finally get a female President.

[LouisianaLiberal]

18. I don't remember who it was,

but before the 2000 vote, some member of the Bush team said that he thought it possible that Bush would win the popular vote and lose the electoral. He then said that his group will rile up the people, there would be massive demonstrations in the streets, and they would do whatever it took to put Bush in the WH. Funny how they did none of that when it suited their purpose.

Does anyone remember reading this, or remember who said it?

[proud2BlibKansan]

21. I remember that!

But damn I can't remember who said it.

[rpannier]

4. Worst President Ever???!!! Well what about...

you know...that guy. You remember...the one who...ummmm. You know that guy. He was always...ummm. Then there's the guy back in the 19th Century. You remember him. He ummmmmm...well....he ummmm. You know.

[calmblueocean]

6. lol! Too funny.

Nixon looks like George Washington compared to GWB.

[Atman]

7. Condi got the redacted version...

Three years after “shock and awe,” now it’s called “the Long War,” just as the CATO Institute in 2003 said it would be.

Last month, President Bush casually informed Americans that troops would remain there past his second term, which ends on Jan. 20, 2009, and not a moment too soon. What a disaster Bush will leave Americans when calculating the costs of his generational commitment to “democratize” the Middle East. Columbia and Harvard economics professors estimate the U.S. invasion/occupation of Iraq through 2010 will cost taxpayers $1 trillion, minimum.

In“The True Costs of the Iraq War,” Joseph Stiglitz (Columbia University professor of economics) states, “One cannot help but wonder: Were there alternative ways of spending a fraction of the war’s $1-$2 trillion in costs that would have better strengthened security, boosted prosperity, and promoted democracy?”

And spared lives ? Clearly, but at a loss of billions in contracts to Halliburton/KBR, Bechtel and the Carlyle Group of which George H.W. Bush is senior adviser. If it weren’t for war, the Bush family empire would be bankrupt. Self-enrichment is why Bush and (British Prime Minister) Tony Blair were determined to launch an invasion against Iraq. That’s why Iran is next.

Bush has said that he wouldn’t be in Iraq if not for a good reason. Bush isn’t in Iraq, and neither are members of his family. Some soldiers are on their third deployment and wish to be liberated from stop loss. Bush likely won’t initiate a “front-door” draft before the elections, which means more troop deployments until help — a new Congress and commander in chief — arrives.

Bush’s policy of touting peace and democracy while dropping bombs on oil-producing countries and promoting crony capitalism in an America deteriorating into a feudal backwater will be Bush’s legacy as the worst president in U.S. history.

[FormerRepublican]

9. LOL! Why does that sound so true?

:rofl:

[lebkuchen]

10. LOL!

Too funny :)

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. ROFLMAO

:rofl:

[0007]

16. Very good!

[myrna minx]

25. Hahaha!

Too true. :rofl:

[FARAFIELD]

11. BUSH GOT FUCKING OWNED!!!

OUCH!! I WAS IN THE MILITARY AND THAT LETTER WAS AWESOME

[Pierzin]

15. Can we get an Amen?

Ed Shultz said much the same thing a few weeks ago.
I ditto the other guy or gal, (sorry) who said now if out members of congress would echo these sentiments and grow some Balls, we would have a better country.

[newyawker99]

27. Hi Pierzin!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[BootinUp]

19. Wow.

I guess they took the gloves off eh? Its so sad this predicament we are in.

[darkmaestro019]

20. Jan 20, 2009.......(head plus desktop) (frantic search for hard liquor)

PLEASE, for the love of all that is fun and harmless and wonderful, PLEASE nobody ever put it quite that way again. Please. It sounds like an eon away. My despair can't take it as a concrete date like that. Saying "a little more than two years" sounds so much more endurable....

[shenmue]

22. Very brave person

And true words.

:patriot:

:loveya:

[AndyA]

23. George W. Bush: Worst. President. Ever.

America will live to regret the Bush II presidency.

Impeach - Prosecute - Incarcerate.

[countryjake]

24. I hope the brave soul who wrote that letter gets to escort our...

criminal president to the Hague!

[wowfundude]

26. Yet Americans accept this travesty

Why do the children of the 60s and 70s as parents accept the War as reasonable?
Why do we do nothing? We are we not expressing outrage?
Maybe its because the media and politicans have failed and we feel helpless.

[newyawker99]

28. Hi wowfundude!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[WiseButAngrySara]

29. Kick! Excellent read. Thanks for posting. ....n/t