President Bush said in a speech on Tuesday critics of the war could be giving aid and comfort to our enemies and without directly saying it, suggesting opposing political leaders' behavior was treasonous. This is of course ludicrous. The Democrats and other critics of the administration can['t help it that Bush and his cronies have been incompetent at every turn. Here's a quote from the AP Story:

He said he welcomed "honest critics" who question the way the war is being conducted and the "loyal opposition" that points out what is wrong with his administration's approach.

But he termed irresponsible the "partisan critics who claim that we acted in Iraq because of oil or because of Israel or because we misled the American people," as well as "defeatists who refuse to see that anything is right." With that description, Bush lumped the many Democrats who have accused him of twisting prewar intelligence with the few people, mostly outside the mainstream, who have raised the issues of oil and Israel.

Bush argued that irresponsible discussion harms the morale of troops overseas, emboldens the insurgents they are fighting and sets a bad example for Iraqis trying to establish a democratic government.

"In a free society, there's only one check on political speech and that's the judgment of the American people," the president said to sustained applause from a friendly audience, a gathering of Veterans of Foreign Wars. "So I ask all Americans to hold their elected leaders to account and demand a debate that brings credit to our democracy, not comfort to our adversaries."

You know... it's odd. This whole issue makes me recall a quote from a book. A German psychologist was allowed to visit with various prisoners on trial during the Nuremburg trials. ONe he spent time with was Hermann Goering, Nazi Reichsmarshal and Luftwaffe Chief. The psychologist, Gustave Gilbert kept his notes and later published them. Here's a short excerpt I believe may pertain to this situation. This is part of a conversation between the good doctor and Goering, who does most of the talkin:

We got around to the subject of war again and I said that, contrary to his attitude, I did not think that the common people are very thankful for leaders who bring them war and destruction.
"Why, of course, the people don't want war," Goering shrugged. "Why would some poor slob on a farm want to risk his life in a war when the best that he can get out of it is to come back to his farm in one piece. Naturally, the common people don't want war; neither in Russia nor in England nor in America, nor for that matter in Germany. That is understood. But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy or a fascist dictatorship or a Parliament or a Communist dictatorship."

"There is one difference," I pointed out. "In a democracy the people have some say in the matter through their elected representatives, and in the United States only Congress can declare wars."

"Oh, that is all well and good, but, voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country."

This is a rather long post but it's all rather frightening really. It's ashame Bush didn't read his history. He might have known some of this. But then again, his grandfather Prescott probably new Goering anyway.




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Iraq War

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