As Sunni forces seek to solidify power in Baghdad, and sectarian war looms on the horizon, it is ever more apparent that our success in Iraq was entirely and holistically dependent on the stability of the region - a stability that has been so transient and unpredictable since the Six Day War, that to have faith in it would be laughable. And lethal.
The Iraq War was a gamble. In the casino that is the US Department of Defense, George Bush, Cheney, & Rumsfeld rolled the dice with reckless abandonment. But it's Americans and Iraqis who are now in debt: 4 trillion dollars, 400,000 lives, and a generation of parent-less Iraqi children and American sons lost to PTSD.
So with this resurgence in doubt in the wisdom of our involvement, where is George W. Bush to weigh in? Clinton and Carter have become citizens of the world since they left office. Bush? Well, he is a citizen of Dallas, I think.
Turns out he has shut out politics all together for a life of recreational painting (he was inspired by Winston Churchill, who took up this hobby. Read more here) and golfing. He is quite the regular out on the Dallas greens and has even built a putting green on his property.
When in office, then President Bush actually gave up golf out of deference for the troops. See, I'm also sacrificing for our country. Yet, since retirement Bush has taken up golf with a religious devotion; his friend, Charlie Younger calls him a "golf-a-holic".
Bush drives the irony of his renewed golfing out far, past the target hole, beyond the realms of sound judgement and sense. Playing golf while most of the nation supports the war is bad. But playing golf while the nation - sons, families of lost sons, and taxpayers - are suffering most from the debt and futility of the war is perfectly fine.
I will give due credit - he did make a service trip to Africa and in 2010 he teemed up with Clinton to bring relief to Haiti after the devastating earthquake.
But Bush didn't cause the social problems in Africa or the earthquake in Haiti. While it is difficult to judge the morality or intentions of a president, we can fairly expect him to be more in tune with the lives he has so greatly impacted.
The Iraq War was a gamble. In the casino that is the US Department of Defense, George Bush, Cheney, & Rumsfeld rolled the dice with reckless abandonment. But it's Americans and Iraqis who are now in debt: 4 trillion dollars, 400,000 lives, and a generation of parent-less Iraqi children and American sons lost to PTSD.
So with this resurgence in doubt in the wisdom of our involvement, where is George W. Bush to weigh in? Clinton and Carter have become citizens of the world since they left office. Bush? Well, he is a citizen of Dallas, I think.
Turns out he has shut out politics all together for a life of recreational painting (he was inspired by Winston Churchill, who took up this hobby. Read more here) and golfing. He is quite the regular out on the Dallas greens and has even built a putting green on his property.
When in office, then President Bush actually gave up golf out of deference for the troops. See, I'm also sacrificing for our country. Yet, since retirement Bush has taken up golf with a religious devotion; his friend, Charlie Younger calls him a "golf-a-holic".
Bush drives the irony of his renewed golfing out far, past the target hole, beyond the realms of sound judgement and sense. Playing golf while most of the nation supports the war is bad. But playing golf while the nation - sons, families of lost sons, and taxpayers - are suffering most from the debt and futility of the war is perfectly fine.
I will give due credit - he did make a service trip to Africa and in 2010 he teemed up with Clinton to bring relief to Haiti after the devastating earthquake.
But Bush didn't cause the social problems in Africa or the earthquake in Haiti. While it is difficult to judge the morality or intentions of a president, we can fairly expect him to be more in tune with the lives he has so greatly impacted.
How about the CURRENT POTUS who plays golf while the nation is falling apart?!?!
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