Saint George and the Dragon

The two Bush Presidencies are blessed, and cursed with war. Blessed for wars create a huge popularity swell, and euphoria for victory, however defined. Cursed for after the binge, someone has to pay the band, and someone has to clean up the mess.

As a leader George W. Bush is doing very well. He actually agrees with my assessment of the perception of the Republic being without visible leadership, on 9/11, and in future efforts will be made to communicate with
the people, and not just those dammed Secret Service managers, and the Vice President.

The problem is that, despite being a believable President in a crisis, he has allowed the Hawks to craft the strategy, and the message, which created an impossible adversary, the Phantom Dragon. The Dragon need never again make a public appearance, or ever come out of his cave. If the ailing Osama bin Laden were to make a dozen inflammatory videotapes, claiming he was in one place or another, then quietly die from Kidney failure, his stranglehold over the US Presidency, media, and public fear, could haunt the remaining Bush years. Just send a new videotaped message, to the Arab TV Networks, every few months, postmarked at a different place each time.

The Human Rights Groups around the world are having a field day with Guantanamo Bay, despite the fact that the US is providing more food, shelter, safety, and medical attention than the Taliban have ever experienced. The world, and the US public will be torn apart over John Walker, or whatever names his liberal lawyers want him called to not be compared with the spy John Walker. ( I still like the statement that under
the Geneva Convention prisoners of war, caught on the battlefield, are entitled to see their mummy and daddy!)  And all this is on the Bush Watch, held with a razor thin majority.

There is nothing more salivating for the party in opposition, than to feel control of the entire legislature is within their grasp. In a scenario such as immediately after 9/11, terms such as "Patriotism", "Bi-Partisan" and
"Support our Commander in Chief" are spread around like junk mail. As public interest wanes, and the prospect of domestic control, can be tasted, with the opportunity to gather mega-millions into the campaign coffers of the party in power, then it's "Screw the War, everyone for himself, and It's the Economy Stupid."

George W. Bush is a likeable President. He has done a great job, rafting down the raging torrent of US public opinion, after the attack on the World Trade Center. Soon he will reach the wide, expanses of the river, calm and quiet, and just like the man who has had the exhilaration, and experience of riding the rapids, some boring accounts clerk will ask, "And how do you wish to pay for this, Sir, Cash or Credit?"

This raises a big problem for George W. The audience are still standing around, waiting for the Grand Finale, where Saint George kills the Dragon, and parades his severed head for all to see. But if Saint George is stuck in the Congressional Swamps, going through his pockets, to find money to pay for his adventure, and the Dragon is nowhere to be seen, then the audience will leave, disgruntled, and muttering "What a ...."

They soon forget that Saint George did a great job in negotiating the rapids

Afghanistan will soon go back to it's old ways, and be rife with corruption, and slaughter. The Bush/Cheney/Baker trans-Afghanistan oil pipeline will become a prime target, for raids, and US troops will be there, under attack for years to come. The combined effects of the phantom bin Laden, John Walker, and Johnnie Walker, could be the end of George W. Bush. Then of course there is ENRON.

But that is another story.

 
Alan Simpson - Washington DC
 
 
 

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