A memory for tomorrow. This is what bothers me about the administration's ownership of September 11, 2001.
George W. Bush said in the 2000 election, “I’m a uniter, not a divider.” Not much happened at the White House for the administration’s first eight months. Domestic policy was scarcer than weapons of mass destruction in Iraq aimed at our shores. There was much thumb twiddling, plenty of vacationing.
The horrific terror of 11 September 2004 did change a lot. For just a moment in time, we had a strong world behind us. Bush could have had any coalition he wanted in tracking down terror. And we could have had a strong coalition of the informed, at home and abroad—people who actually understand a rational approach to foreign policy in dangerous times, for the long-term good of all.
We were a strong world ready to stand up and fight those who attacked us. Then something went wrong. Bush squandered that capital of unity by turning away from Afghanistan prematurely, rather than pursue the real enemy, as his neocon friends’ waved him into Iraq. Now the world would vote Bush out of office if they could. Over a thousand people in our military and tens of thousands of innocent citizens have died. Veterans are coming back and speaking out against Bush, forming activist groups. Not even Iraqis like us (still waiting for the hugs and flowers). Iraq is a quagmire and so is Afghanistan. It’s making us sick at home. Income has declined for workers, poverty has increased, and the insurance companies are digging deeper and deeper into our pockets.
This summer the Bush campaign based its strategy on fear, using tactics of smear. He can’t seriously run on his record so he attacks the opponent with lies, twisted half-truths, and distortion. These people will stop at nothing to get reelected. As voters we should do all we can to turn out in big numbers at the polls to make sure he doesn’t.
Hey, Mr. W. Divider? Where’s the “uniter” you promised us? (By the way, look up “uniter.” It’s not a word. Not only did he make up a concept he never had a purpose for, he made up a word for it.)
