Bush Legacy Hinges on Success in Iraq - Powell

[maddezmom]

By Saul Hudson

~snip~

Bush, who is campaigning for reelection as a resolute war president, has fallen in the polls largely due to rising casualties and mounting evidence that Iraq was not a military threat before the first preemptive U.S. war.


"I think the president's reputation certainly rides on this, as does mine, as do all of my colleagues here in government," Secretary of State Colin Powell (news - web sites) said. "Iraq is top dead center in terms of our legacy."


~snip~

Bush, the son of a one-term president who also went to war with Iraq, entered the White House with little foreign policy experience. But the former Texas governor established the so-called Bush doctrine of preemptive strikes and, after the Sept. 11 attacks, has launched wars in Afghanistan (news - web sites) and Iraq.


"Iraq is in a better place, the region is in a better place, the world is in a better place, because Saddam Hussein (news - web sites) and that regime are gone and they're not coming back," Powell said.


~snip~
more: http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/nm/20040716/pl_nm/bush_iraq_legacy_dc&cid=615&ncid=1480

[phiddle]

1. Interesting choice of words:

"Iraq is DEAD center."

[frylock]

2. the son of a one-term president..

george quincy bush.

[ozymandius]

3. Iraq was not a military threat before the first preemptive U.S. war.

First time out and it's bust.

If someone makes a movie and it loses money - the studio is not going to allow for a sequel.

[delete_bush]

7. I like your movie analogy...

..will put it to good use!

[Toby109]

4. Well, at least we know where their

priorities are: how they will be viewed in the future. WTF? Why don't we ask all the innocent people murdered by your fucking policy, asshole! I wonder how much they care about your legacy.

[Geo55]

5. "Iraq is top dead center in terms of our legacy."

Great legacy Powell.....go home and write your lousy memoirs

[coloradodem2005]

6. Well, I don't give a damn about the Bush Legacy.

I give a damn about peace and true freedom and not lies.

[suegeo]

8. Sept 11 was a huge failure and that's a part of your legacy

Don't forget Colin, that the Sept. 11, 2001 failure is a very large part of your legacy as well. The failure to protect us on the day is a huge part of your blemished record, dude.

Furthermore, I think the author of this article doesn't paint the whole picture when he wrote: "* has fallen in the polls largely due to rising casualties and mounting evidence that Iraq was not a military threat before the first preemptive U.S. war."

Perhaps part of the reason that our glorioous leader is falling in the polls is that the American public is waking up to the fact that the Bush crime family could have done a whole lot more to prevent 9.11. Or maybe that the BCF was complicit in the attacks in some way.

Perhaps.

[riverwalker]

9. Powells "legacy"

will be seen someday in a Victims Memorial to the death and destruction he has inflicted upon the Iraqi people. There will be a little portrait of him standing before the UN waving his pointer stick at the photos of empty trucks.

[tabasco]

10. Thousands of innocent human beings will not have a legacy.

That is the real legacy of the criminal Bush cabal.

[Ann Arbor Dem]

11. We know that the war in Iraq is NOT a success.

Their collective and individual legacies will show that this is the worst administration to this point in our history.

[Disturbed]

12. Profile of a Sociopath

Profile of a Sociopath




Glibness/Superficial Charm

Language can be used without effort by them to confuse and convince their audience. Captivating storytellers that exude self-confidence, they can spin a web that intrigues others. Since they are persuasive, they have the capacity to destroy their critics verbally or emotionally.

Manipulative and Conning

They never recognize the rights of others and see their self-serving behaviors permissible. They appear to be charming, yet are covertly hostile and domineering, seeing their victim as merely an instrument to be used. He dominates and humiliates his victims.

Grandiose Sense of Self

Feels entitled to certain things as "his right." Craves adulation and attendance. Must be the center of attention with his own fantasies as the "spokesman for God," "enlightened," "leader of humankind," etc. Creates an us-versus-them mentality

Pathological Lying

Has no problem lying coolly and easily and it is almost impossible for them to be truthful on a consistent basis. Can create, and get caught up in, a complex belief about their own powers and abilities. Extremely convincing and able to pass lie detector tests.

Lack of Remorse, Shame or Guilt

A deep seated rage, which is split off and repressed, is at his core. Does not see others around him as people, but only as targets and opportunities. Instead of friends, they have victims and accomplices who end up as victims. The end always justifies the means and they let nothing stand in their way.

Shallow Emotions
When they show what seems to be warmth, joy, love and compassion it is more feigned than experienced and serves an ulterior motive. Outraged by insignificant matters, yet remaining unmoved and cold by what would upset a normal person. Since he is not genuine, neither are his promises.

Incapacity for Love

While He talks about "God's love" he is unable to give or receive it. Since he does not believe in the geniuses of his followers' love, he is very harsh in testing it from his devotees and expects them to feel guilt for their failings. Expects unconditional surrender.

Need for Stimulation

Living on the edge, yet testing the beliefs of their followers with bizarre rules, punishments and behaviors. Verbal outbursts and physical punishments are normal.

Callousness/Lack of Empathy

Unable to emphasize with the pain of their victims, having only contempt for others' feelings of distress and readily taking advantage of them. Their skills are used to exploit, abuse and exert power. Since the follower cannot believe their leader would callously hurt them, they rationalize his behavior as necessary for their ( or the group's) own "good" and deny the abuse. When devotees become aware of the exploitation it feels like a "spiritual rape" to them.

Poor Behavioral Controls/Impulsive Nature

Rage and abuse, alternating with small expressions of love and approval produce an addictive cycle for abuser and abused, as well as creating hopelessness in the victim. Believes he is all-powerful, all-knowing, entitled to every wish, no sense of personal boundaries, no concern for his impact on others. His followers only see him as near perfect.

Early Behavior Problems/Juvenile Delinquency

Usually has a history of behavioral and academic difficulties, yet "gets by" by conning others. Problems in making and keeping friends; aberrant behaviors such as cruelty to people or animals, stealing, etc.

Irresponsibility/Unreliability

Not concerning about wrecking others' lives and dreams. Oblivious or indifferent to the devastation they cause. Does not accept blame themselves, but blame their followers or others outside their group. Blame reinforces passivity and obedience and produces guilt, shame, terror and conformity in the followers.

Promiscuous Sexual Behavior/Infidelity

Totalist leaders frequently practice promiscuity, child sexual abuse, rape and sexual acting out of all sorts. This is usually kept hidden from all but the inner circle. Stringent sexual control of their followers, such as forced breakups and divorces, removal of children from parents, rules for dating, etc.

Lack of Realistic Life Plan/Parasitic Lifestyle

Tends to move around a lot or makes all encompassing promises for the future. Many groups claim as their goal world-domination or other utopian promises. Great contrast between the leader's opulent lifestyle and the followers' impoverishment. Support by gifts and donations from his followers who are pressured to give through fear and guilt. Highly sensitive to their own pain and health.

Criminal or Entrepreneurial Versatility

Changes their image and that of the group as needed to avoid prosecution and to increase income and to recruit a range of members. Is able to adapt or relocate as needed to preserve the group. Can resurface later with a new name, a new front group and a new twist on the scam.



Manipulative and Conning





Glibness/Superficial Charm

Pathological Lying

Callousness/Lack of Empathy

Irresponsibility/Unreliability

Contemptuous of those who seek to understand him

Does not perceive that anything is wrong with him

Authoritarian

Secretive

Paranoid

Exercises despotic control over every aspect of his victim's life

Has an emotional need to justify his crimes and therefore needs his victim's affirmation (respect, gratitude and love)

Ultimate goal is the creation of a willing victim

Incapable of real human attachment to another

Unable to feel remorse or guilt

Extreme narcissism and grandiose

[Ann Arbor Dem]

13. That could also be called "Profile of a Neocon"! n/t

[cliss]

15. That's him all right, D.

That's George BeetleBush to a "T". I particularly noticed the 'Incapacity for Love'. As I read that, I thought about how George brings up his close relationship with God, and how God "tells him to do things", or "God is working through him".

Interesting.

[teryang]

14. These people are infamous, that is their reputation

The notion that Iraq is better off is preposterous, it is a charnel house resultant to one of the most vicious unprincipled power grabs since Hitler invaded Poland.