In 2000, George Bush campaigned against the United States doing any nation
building missions. Even during the Wake Forest debate in October of 2000, Bush
spoke against any such actions by our country:
Q: Why not Africa? Why the Middle East? Why the Balkans but not Africa?
BUSH: Africa’s important. And we’ve got to do a lot of work in Africa to
promote democracy and trade. It’s an important continent. But there’s got to
be priorities. And the Middle East is a priority for a lot of reasons as is
Europe and the Far East, and our own hemisphere. Those are my four top
priorities should I be the president. It’s not to say we won’t be engaged
[in Africa], and working hard to get other nations to come together to
prevent atrocity [like in Rwanda]. I thought the best example of handling a
[genocide] situation was East Timor when we provided logistical support to
the Australians; support that only we can provide. I thought that was a good
model. But we can’t be all things to all people in the world. I am worried
about over-committing our military around the world. I want to be judicious
in its use. I don’t think nation-building missions are worthwhile.
Reference
link.
Since that time we have seen the United States involved in two large scale
nation rebuilding exercises. One being Afghanistan and the other Iraq. This is
just an example of one of the many lies George Bush has told the American people
and one that is being expanded upon.
MSNBC has reported that the
State Department and Department of Defense are working on plans on who to deal
with a post-Castro Cuba. The day the leader of Cuba falls, our government is
preparing to dash into action and handle the transition from a communist country
to a democracy, something we have done so well in the past – NOT.
With the United States just coming out of one of the deadliest months in
Iraq, should we be focusing on other countries? We are already in turmoil with
Syria, Venezuela, Iran, North Korea and some what with China. Our rapidly
depleting and over worked military can not be relied upon to fix the entire
world.
After Katrina, we learned that our own security and response to incidence of
national interest are highly crippled. George Bush was elected by the people to
run this country, not the world yet he seems to think he is President of planet
Earth.
When Fidel Castro is no longer in power, either by force or natural causes,
then it should be the job of the United Nations to head up the transition of
Cuba, not the United States. If the United Nations is not at the head of this
mission and instead we are then there is no need for us to continue our
membership in the United Nations.
The people of this country need accountability, answers, and a firm promise
from George Bush that he will work for the American people. He has continually
prided himself on being a “war time” President. Being a “war time” President is
not an honor. There is no honor in having your nation at war. For Bush though,
war appears to be some game. Perhaps handling domestic issues like health care,
the economy, and rising oil prices is just too boring for Bush. If that is the
case then he needs to get the hell out of office so we can have a leader who
does care about the people of this country and not his game of playing war.