George W. Bush is a good guy. His self deprecating sarcasm and good nature would probably make him a great guy to have a beer with, if he drank. And I would have no problem with he and Laura, a First Lady never given enough credit for her beauty, babysitting my grandson while my son and I went out for that beer.
However, even great guys make massive mistakes and Iraq was Bush’s worst. We won’t rehash the myriad reasons why we should not have gone into that quagmire, but it was a boneheaded move we paid for in blood and treasure. The former president, as decent of a man that he is, apparently still has Iraq on his mind. As he should.
FNC: “Former President George W. Bush made an eye-catching gaffe regarding Iraq while condemning Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. Bush delivered remarks regarding the importance of democracy and threats to democracy in the U.S. and abroad.”
“In contrast, Russian elections are rigged,” he said. “Political opponents are imprisoned or otherwise eliminated from participating in the electoral process. The result is an absence of checks and balances in Russia and the decision of one man to launch a wholly unjustified and brutal invasion of Iraq. I mean of Ukraine.” Bush then said, under his breath, “Iraq, too…Anyway, 75,” Bush added, referring to his age.
Thus was not a Freudian confession, as some would have it. But likely more of a verbal misstep. Why? As dumb as it was, the US invasion of Iraq was not brutal. Also, though the buck stops with Bush, he was acting on what he thought was legitimate intelligence and a lot of people, notably Condi Rice, had a hand in the decision. In fact, of all involved Rice knew better. She is more at fault than Bush because she acquiesced in the move when she should have fought tooth and nail against it.
Though his “Iraq too” line is rather strange. Is he then equating the two invasions? Is he having a moment of regret? Perhaps, and it would be wholly justified. But more likely his explanation of age is just as accurate. After 60, stuff like that happens. Trust me on that.
Critics jumped on the gaffe. “Oof. If you were George W. Bush, you think you’d just steer clear of giving any speech about one man launching a wholly unjustified and brutal invasion,” former Rep. Justin Amash tweeted. Oh please, that’s horse manure. Again, the invasion was not brutal. Though perhaps if it had been we could have put the thing to bed post haste. This line proves why Amash is a former congressman.
Oof.
If you were George W. Bush, you think you’d just steer clear of giving any speech about one man launching a wholly unjustified and brutal invasion. https://t.co/8zdH0ogOAy
— Justin Amash (@justinamash) May 19, 2022
“This is the most amazing Freudian slip of all time,” Townhall writer Scott Morefield tweeted. Yup, a slip, not a confession. Age can make you stumble that way and thus was it merely a verbal mistake? Probably, and his comic timing was perfect in response to his misstep. If only we had succeeded in Iraq as easily as Bush recovered from the gaffe.
Join the Discussion
COMMENTS POLICY: We have no tolerance for messages of violence, racism, vulgarity, obscenity or other such discourteous behavior. Thank you for contributing to a respectful and useful online dialogue.
Good gaffe Bush so the Iraq War was rigged?
Sure, it was not necessary for the US to act against Saddam Hussein, who had deployed chemical weapons against Iran and the Kurds, but it sure as hell wasn’t an immoral war. Saddam had defied UN resolutions, and started wars against Iran and Kuwait, and committed genocide. So to view Bush’s defensive war against a mass-murdering war-monger, as aggression, is a total inversion of morality.
Certainly, the people who count, the Iraqis, have no complaints, and Saddam was justifiably executed by them. It is this underlying vein of moral indifference in the West, that has encouraged a rise in arrogance of powerful power-lusters, who have no hesitation to start wars to gain territories.
Bush have nothing to apologize about the Iraq.
At least one good thing stands out about the second Iraq war: Saddam Hussein was captured alive and brought to trial for his misdeeds.
Contrast that with Obama: Osama Bin Laden was killed in a raid on his dwelling, and we may never know how close he was to taking out one of the SEALS. Do we even know whether he was armed?
Worse: Libyan dictator Ghaddafi was murdered in cold blood after being overthrown and in custody, and all Hillary Clinton could do was laugh. Didn’t the Obama regime believe in the higher justice that comes from being brought to trial for one’s evils?