President Bush today reached a zenith of hypocrisy. He has
urged the US Congress to “act responsibly” in fulfilling his request for $75
billion to finance the war that is already in progress in Iraq. Now Congress cannot deny the funding without
increasing the danger to the troops and painting themselves as
“unpatriotic.” For political calculation, the administration receives
high marks. Unfortunately for the entire planet, that’s their only
passing grade.
2003 03.25
President Bush today reached a zenith of hypocrisy. He has
urged the US Congress to “act responsibly” in fulfilling his request for $75
billion to finance the war that is already in progress in Iraq.
Is it responsible to start a war without first making sure we can afford it? Is
it responsible to start a costly war and give tax breaks to rich friends
simultaneously? Is it responsible to start a controversial war while virtually all
of the world’s nations are against it? Is it responsible to
suggest the Kurdish and Iraqi people would welcome our troops with open
arms when we all know that they are wary of America as a result of the
double-crossing committed by the first Bush administration? Is it
responsible to expect our military to occupy a nation the size of
California with a mere 250,000 troops?
Now the President will hold Congress hostage to the need for war
financing. Now that the troops are deployed, we cannot do anything but
finance the operation.
The Bush administration knew that either their war
plans or their tax cuts (read “payola”) would have been derailed if they
had gone to congress with a $75 billion bill before the shooting
started. Senator Joe Biden (D-DE) reminded Colin Powell just over a week
ago that it was inappropriate for the administration to make financial
promises to Turkey before asking the Senate Appropriations Committee
first.
Did they get the message? Sure they did  that’s why they waited
until American soldiers were putting their lives at risk before hitting
Congress with the bill. And Congress cannot deny the funding without
increasing the danger to the troops and painting themselves as
“unpatriotic.” For political calculation, the administration receives
high marks. Unfortunately for the entire planet, that’s their only
passing grade.
It may be cynical to suggest the President has used Iraq
and Al Qaeda to promote a domestic agenda and campaign for his next
Presidential term. It’s significantly less cynical than being the person
who actually does such things. For the ultimate in cynicism and
hypocrisy, one need look no further than the White House.
I just want to know when President Bush has actually been responsible
himself, ever.
He was irresponsible with Harkin Energy  it went
bankrupt. He was irresponsible with the Texas Rangers baseball franchise
 their financial problems will prevent the team from being competitive
for years to come. He was irresponsible as Governor of Texas  the
environment has never been more polluted and no Governor has ever executed
more prisoners. He was irresponsible as a Presidential candidate Â
remember his endorsement of the coup d’etat in Pakistan? And he has been
nothing but irresponsible as President.Â
He reneged on the International Criminal
Court and the Kyoto Protocol, withdrew from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty and aided and abetted
Dick Cheney and his oil industry buddies as they secretly designed an
energy policy that is sure to suck the lifeblood of the working class
while enriching the administration’s friends (California’s energy crisis can’t be that
distant a memory, can it?). And everyone who hasn’t yet been brainwashed
by the “fair and balanced” right-wing jackhammers in the media knows that
his “economic stimulus” plan is really a cash repayment to all the rich
friends that financed his rise to power.
Doesn’t get any more responsible than this, eh? I can’t wait to see what his next act of
responsibility will be, perhaps a pre-emptive nuc-yu-lar attack on Paris! Onward
Christian soldier.
Author: Paul Westlake
News Service: TheExperiment
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