Paul Krugman: The war president (NYT/ IHT)

[Up2Late]

Paul Krugman: The war president

Paul Krugman The New York Times

SATURDAY, JUNE 25, 2005

VIENNA In this former imperial capital, every square seems to contain a giant statue of a Habsburg on horseback, posing as a conquering hero. America's founders knew all too well how war appeals to the vanity of rulers and their thirst for glory. That's why they took care to deny presidents the kingly privilege of making war at their own discretion. But after 9/11 President George W. Bush, with obvious relish, declared himself a "war president." And he kept the nation focused on martial matters by morphing the pursuit of Al Qaeda into a war against Saddam Hussein.

In November 2002, Helen Thomas, the veteran White House correspondent, told an audience, "I have never covered a president who actually wanted to go to war" - but she made it clear that Bush was the exception. And she was right. Leading the United States wrongfully into war strikes at the heart of democracy. It would have been an unprecedented abuse of power even if the war hadn't turned into a military and moral quagmire. And we Americans won't be able to get out of that quagmire until we face up to the reality of how we got in.

Let me talk briefly about what we now know about the decision to invade Iraq, then focus on why it matters. The administration has prevented any official inquiry into whether it hyped the case for war. But there's plenty of circumstantial evidence that it did.

And then there's the Downing Street Memo - actually the minutes of a prime minister's meeting in July 2002 - in which the chief of British overseas intelligence briefed his colleagues about his recent trip to Washington. "Bush wanted to remove Saddam," says the memo, "through military action, justified by the conjunction of terrorism and WMD. But the intelligence and facts were being fixed around the policy." It doesn't get much clearer than that.

<http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/06/24/opinion/edkrug.php>
(more at link above)

[DemBones DemBones]

1. Paul Krugman and Helen Thomas are two

who speak truth to power. Others should follow their example.

[whistle]

2. This should be repeated at every White House press conference

...In November 2002, Helen Thomas, the veteran White House correspondent, told an audience, "I have never covered a president who actually wanted to go to war" - but she made it clear that Bush was the exception.

[Cha]

3. That's cause the chimperor had

nothing else and now he doesn't even have that.

And he's lying through his monkey teeth about EVERYTHING!

Thank you, Lucky Stars, for "Deep Thought" Britain's answer to Mark Felt!

[Up2Late]

4. "Deep Thought?" Is that what they are calling him?

[Up2Late]

5. Kick n/t

:kick: