G.W. BUSH HASN'T A CLUE

G. W. Bush remains a font of misconception. He likens the Iraq adventure to our revolutionary war and quotes Washington: "My best wishes are irresistibly excited whensoever in any country I see an oppressed nation unfurl the banners of freedom." Again, he misconstrues a principled patriot who was commending the tricolor flag presented to him by the French foreign minister after their revolution. The real G.W.’s words clearly imply empathy, non-interference and observation, not participation.

Our first President lived self-determination. Democracy (the "Tinkerbell" of political systems) requires an understanding of the rule of law that comes from within and can’t be imposed on a culture not yet ready. Comprehension of Washington’s Farewell Address would have prevented the foreseeable debacle in Iraq, to wit:

". . . the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it . . . the will avoid the necessity of those overgrown military establishments, which, under any form of goverment, are inauspicious to liberty . . . ." "It is our true policy to steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world . . . ." "In relation to the still subsisting war in Europe . . . duty and interest to take, a neutral position." "Having taken it, I determined, as far as should depend upon me, to maintain it, with moderation, perseverance, and firmness . . . to warn against the mischiefs of foreign intrigue, to guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism . . . to maintain inviolate the relations of peace and amity towards other nations . . . ."

People live with what they will until they have the gumption to change it. The real G.W. understood that you cannot win someone else’s civil war for them. Would that "Dubya" respected the real George’s philosophy and acted accordingly.