THE ISSUE
-----------------------------------------Focus: The Bush administration
-----------------------------------------
Kathryn Shreeve
-----------------------------------------
The Bush Administration is arguably the most controversial Cabinet in the past few decades. President George W. Bush and his most trusted advisors Vice-President Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and former Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz have turned America upside-down from its stable economy of the Clinton Administration. Not only are there economic problems from the current administration but social and environmental problems too. Due to the events of 9/11 and the extreme motivation of the Bush Administration to create war the United States is divided. America's image within the international community is tarnished. Clarification is needed in order to understand what has happened and is happening in America. This superpower has only one place to go now that it has forced itself to the top and that is down.
How George W. Bush came into the Presidency in the first place is an issue that needs to be addressed. In November 2000, the election for President was between Democrat Al Gore and Republican George W. Bush. There was an estimated 1.5 to 3 million votes lost due to faulty ballot machines . Many of these lost votes were in the State of Florida, the same state that George W. Bush's brother Jeb is governor. After a recount of votes, it appears that George W. Bush won the state by a margin of approximately 100 votes. However, there is speculation as to whether votes were left out of the recount. Also, there were accusations thrown at the electoral officials by African-Americans saying that over 1 million Black votes were uncounted . This ballot scandal in itself triggered warnings about Bush and his Cabinet. Many people still believe that the Presidency was stolen from Al Gore.
After the tragic events of 9/11 there was a swift movement from the Bush Administration to punish Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and all extreme terrorists. The War on Terror thus began. However, despite most of the terrorists being Saudi Arabians on the hijacked planes only the Afghanis were targeted. It was around the time directly after 9/11 that Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld saw an opportunity to go after Iraq . Even though George W. Bush is the President Dick Cheney has had considerable power in the running of the Administration and its varied decisions, more so than any other Vice-President in American history. Cheney has a unique advantage in his position because he was able to place his friends in the President's Administrative team. The Project for the New American Century or the PNAC was founded in 1997 by neo-conservatives, headed by Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, and Richard Perle. The project planned to bring the world under American domination and its culture and rules, the ultimate goal for an empire . In order to do this they needed to start somewhere that was already a well-known enemy from a previous war, Iraq. The timing was perfect after 9/11. Bringing down Saddam Hussein and conquering Iraq has been a long-time goal of those involved with the PNAC. Cheney said repeatedly on several media interviews that "There is no doubt that there are Weapons of Mass Destruction." But were there Weapons of Mass Destruction? There was no vital proof. The National Intelligence Estimate is a document that the CIA explains is a "strategic estimate of the capabilities, vulnerabilities, and probable courses of action of foreign nations produced at a national level as a composite of the views of the intelligence community." According to certain CIA officials, there was intense pressure put upon George Tenet, Head of the CIA, and those who work on NIEs to create an NIE about Weapons of Mass Destruction to prove that they actually existed. However, there was one flaw, they didn't know if they existed or not. Despite not knowing, an NIE was created and many who worked on the project felt like they were being fed information from the Bush Administration.
It's a strange phenomenon that took place in the United States directly before the Iraq War and for two years after it began. Americans were still very sensitive about 9/11 and had a great deal of confusion and ignorance towards the world outside of the American boundaries. Citizens were therefore easily manipulated by the media and the government into believing that Iraq was ready to attack the country at any moment. People responded overwhelmingly to the media. Most Americans backed the President and his Administration's choices. Questioning the government's choice about going to war became close to treason. "You're either with us or against us," is the phrase that was uttered by George W. and several of his Cabinet members. Those who disagreed with the war, such as the musical trio the Dixie Chicks were publicly ostracized. An anti-Muslim attitude was rampant. The Constitution of the United States of America was breached without the public not thinking it was. Nationalism was beginning to seep into the American Mentality in the guise of Patriotism.
Those who were living outside of America saw the impending war at a different angle, free from the barge of brainwashed media. Many wondered why Americans were supporting such a blatant attempt at imperialism. It looked obvious that those in the Bush Administration were looking to expand America and for them to expand its view of democracy upon a country that was radically different in all areas.
The Iraq War began 19 March 2003 despite outraged protests from around the world. Although the UN was vehemently against America going to war with Iraq, that didn't stop the United States from attacking. As a consequence hundreds of thousands of people have died and millions have suffered.
Today, over three years later, the Iraq War is nowhere near ending. Peace and democracy throughout the country is not going to happen for years and years even if America doesn't pull out beforehand. Now, the United States faces a new and very vocal threat the leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Il. This leader actually does have Weapons of Mass Destruction and not only is threatening America but surrounding countries in Asia, Japan, China, and South Korea. How is America going to be able to afford to pay for a War in Iraq, a War in North Korea, and lately there have been talks about launching war on Iran?
Lately the Administration has been criticized about not paying enough attention to domestic issues. The latest being of illegal immigration and dependency on oil. Both are very important to the running of America. Without illegal laborers the lavish and comfortable lifestyle of many Americans will be disrupted. Without oil there will be chaos. America runs on oil. The Bush Administration talks about these issues but it doesn't seem to carry the same weight as to what is happening in the Middle East and Asia. Instead of spending vast amounts of energy and money into finding an alternative oil source, the government should be finding alternatives to be used in the place of oil. There needs to be balance within the government to maintain order and normalcy. The balance in America seems one-sided, the prevailing side being war.
The United States is reaching a critical peak in which America will either prevail or crumble. Failure is never an option. But failure is imminent due to poor choices made by the Bush Administration. Who is the next superpower? Many believe it to be China, a country where there are more English speakers than in any other country and have a continuing advancement of technology.
The Iraq War is a travesty that should never have begun. 9/11 has been used most heinously by the Bush Administration and the people who were involved are still not captured. American citizens have opened their eyes in over the past year and know that they were lied to about the Weapons of Mass Destruction. George W. Bush is experiencing the lowest poll ratings he's ever had, as of 14 July 2006 his ratings are at 24.6%. Where the United States is heading isn't a mystery. If Bush and his Administration continue to make choices like they have in the last 5 years then America's hold on the world will dwindle. It doesn't make sense economically, ecologically, or socially to continue on this imperialistic path. What is that old saying? What goes up must come down. When the United States comes down, it will hit hard.
How George W. Bush came into the Presidency in the first place is an issue that needs to be addressed. In November 2000, the election for President was between Democrat Al Gore and Republican George W. Bush. There was an estimated 1.5 to 3 million votes lost due to faulty ballot machines . Many of these lost votes were in the State of Florida, the same state that George W. Bush's brother Jeb is governor. After a recount of votes, it appears that George W. Bush won the state by a margin of approximately 100 votes. However, there is speculation as to whether votes were left out of the recount. Also, there were accusations thrown at the electoral officials by African-Americans saying that over 1 million Black votes were uncounted . This ballot scandal in itself triggered warnings about Bush and his Cabinet. Many people still believe that the Presidency was stolen from Al Gore.
After the tragic events of 9/11 there was a swift movement from the Bush Administration to punish Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden and all extreme terrorists. The War on Terror thus began. However, despite most of the terrorists being Saudi Arabians on the hijacked planes only the Afghanis were targeted. It was around the time directly after 9/11 that Dick Cheney and Donald Rumsfeld saw an opportunity to go after Iraq . Even though George W. Bush is the President Dick Cheney has had considerable power in the running of the Administration and its varied decisions, more so than any other Vice-President in American history. Cheney has a unique advantage in his position because he was able to place his friends in the President's Administrative team. The Project for the New American Century or the PNAC was founded in 1997 by neo-conservatives, headed by Cheney, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, and Richard Perle. The project planned to bring the world under American domination and its culture and rules, the ultimate goal for an empire . In order to do this they needed to start somewhere that was already a well-known enemy from a previous war, Iraq. The timing was perfect after 9/11. Bringing down Saddam Hussein and conquering Iraq has been a long-time goal of those involved with the PNAC. Cheney said repeatedly on several media interviews that "There is no doubt that there are Weapons of Mass Destruction." But were there Weapons of Mass Destruction? There was no vital proof. The National Intelligence Estimate is a document that the CIA explains is a "strategic estimate of the capabilities, vulnerabilities, and probable courses of action of foreign nations produced at a national level as a composite of the views of the intelligence community." According to certain CIA officials, there was intense pressure put upon George Tenet, Head of the CIA, and those who work on NIEs to create an NIE about Weapons of Mass Destruction to prove that they actually existed. However, there was one flaw, they didn't know if they existed or not. Despite not knowing, an NIE was created and many who worked on the project felt like they were being fed information from the Bush Administration.
It's a strange phenomenon that took place in the United States directly before the Iraq War and for two years after it began. Americans were still very sensitive about 9/11 and had a great deal of confusion and ignorance towards the world outside of the American boundaries. Citizens were therefore easily manipulated by the media and the government into believing that Iraq was ready to attack the country at any moment. People responded overwhelmingly to the media. Most Americans backed the President and his Administration's choices. Questioning the government's choice about going to war became close to treason. "You're either with us or against us," is the phrase that was uttered by George W. and several of his Cabinet members. Those who disagreed with the war, such as the musical trio the Dixie Chicks were publicly ostracized. An anti-Muslim attitude was rampant. The Constitution of the United States of America was breached without the public not thinking it was. Nationalism was beginning to seep into the American Mentality in the guise of Patriotism.
Those who were living outside of America saw the impending war at a different angle, free from the barge of brainwashed media. Many wondered why Americans were supporting such a blatant attempt at imperialism. It looked obvious that those in the Bush Administration were looking to expand America and for them to expand its view of democracy upon a country that was radically different in all areas.
The Iraq War began 19 March 2003 despite outraged protests from around the world. Although the UN was vehemently against America going to war with Iraq, that didn't stop the United States from attacking. As a consequence hundreds of thousands of people have died and millions have suffered.
Today, over three years later, the Iraq War is nowhere near ending. Peace and democracy throughout the country is not going to happen for years and years even if America doesn't pull out beforehand. Now, the United States faces a new and very vocal threat the leader of North Korea, Kim Jong Il. This leader actually does have Weapons of Mass Destruction and not only is threatening America but surrounding countries in Asia, Japan, China, and South Korea. How is America going to be able to afford to pay for a War in Iraq, a War in North Korea, and lately there have been talks about launching war on Iran?
Lately the Administration has been criticized about not paying enough attention to domestic issues. The latest being of illegal immigration and dependency on oil. Both are very important to the running of America. Without illegal laborers the lavish and comfortable lifestyle of many Americans will be disrupted. Without oil there will be chaos. America runs on oil. The Bush Administration talks about these issues but it doesn't seem to carry the same weight as to what is happening in the Middle East and Asia. Instead of spending vast amounts of energy and money into finding an alternative oil source, the government should be finding alternatives to be used in the place of oil. There needs to be balance within the government to maintain order and normalcy. The balance in America seems one-sided, the prevailing side being war.
The United States is reaching a critical peak in which America will either prevail or crumble. Failure is never an option. But failure is imminent due to poor choices made by the Bush Administration. Who is the next superpower? Many believe it to be China, a country where there are more English speakers than in any other country and have a continuing advancement of technology.
The Iraq War is a travesty that should never have begun. 9/11 has been used most heinously by the Bush Administration and the people who were involved are still not captured. American citizens have opened their eyes in over the past year and know that they were lied to about the Weapons of Mass Destruction. George W. Bush is experiencing the lowest poll ratings he's ever had, as of 14 July 2006 his ratings are at 24.6%. Where the United States is heading isn't a mystery. If Bush and his Administration continue to make choices like they have in the last 5 years then America's hold on the world will dwindle. It doesn't make sense economically, ecologically, or socially to continue on this imperialistic path. What is that old saying? What goes up must come down. When the United States comes down, it will hit hard.
