God Ordered Iraq War, Says Bush - (Chris Floyd vindicated!)

[dutchdemocrat]

God Ordered Iraq War, Says Bush

Full article by Chris Floyd at his website

Thursday, 06 October 2005



I don't like to strike a personal note here, but for more than two years, I've been getting angry emails from people about an article I wrote in June 2003: God's Errand Boy: The Revelation of St. George. The story, which appeared in The Moscow Times and CounterPunch, was taken from a Haaretz piece which told of Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas' report to his colleagues of his recent summit with Bush and Sharon. Abbas said that Bush declared: "God told me to strike at al Qaeda and I struck them, and then He instructed me to strike at Saddam, which I did, and now I am determined to solve the problem in the Middle East. If you help me, I will act, and if not, the elections will come and I will have to focus on them."

I thought the story was a perfect example of the religious megalomania that Bush has often exhibited, believing that his murderous conquest of Iraq and the torture he inflicts throughout his Terror War gulag are God's will. I did make one error in the original report, writing "Here are Bush's exact words," when I had earlier noted that this was of course a second-hand quote, Abbas' recollection of Bush'swords. A couple of readers rightly took me to task for this, and it was corrected in all subsequent appearances of the article (and in the Empire Burlesque book). But most of the critical emailers simply refused to believe that Bush would ever say such a thing: I was just a fringe crank without any credibility writing for obscure publications, peddling Ay-rab propaganda, indulging in baseless Bush-bashing -- and besides, didn't I know that Bush's own spokesman had denied the story? Case closed! And so on. I don't know where and how often this article has popped up on the internet, but I've gotten such emails as late as last month.

Today, that obscure fringe-crank outlet known as the BBC announced a "major three-part series" -- http://www.google.com/search?num=100&hl=en&lr=&safe=off&q=%22Elusive+Peace%3A+Israel+And+The+Arabs%22+&btnG=Search">Elusive Peace: Israel and the Arabs -- which features this very conversation. The earlier account of Bush's declaration of his divine mission is confirmed on film by both Abbas and Palestinian Foreign Minister Nabil Shaath. In the film, Nabil Shaath says: "President Bush said to all of us: 'I'm driven with a mission from God. God would tell me, "George, go and fight those terrorists in Afghanistan." And I did, and then God would tell me, "George, go and end the tyranny in Iraq …" And I did. And now, again, I feel God's words coming to me, "Go get the Palestinians their state and get the Israelis their security, and get peace in the Middle East." And by God I'm gonna do it.'"

The BBC story was supposed to embargoed until later tonight, but someone else broke it and it's all over the net, so you can take a gander at it now: http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2005/10_october/06/bush.shtml">God told me to invade Iraq, Bush tells Palestinian ministers.

SNIP

http://www.chris-floyd.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=212&Itemid=1

DD is the webmaster for www.chris-floyd.com

[Erika]

1. This was at the time the fundies thought W was part of the 2nd coming

and he and Rove played them like a fiddle.

[SpiralHawk]

22. Actually, Bush family buddy, Rev. Moon is the Second Coming

Hey, he announced it HIMSELF. Are you going to doubt the Moons and the Bushes?

Money talks, nobody walks.

http://www.commondreams.org/views01/0310-03.htm

[cynatnite]

2. How do we know it was gawd he was talking to?

Didn't gawd tell that woman to kill her kids?

No offense to the christians on DU, but this kind of thing has always bugged me. How does anyone know if god tells them to do something?

[chrisau214]

13. "How do we know it was gawd he was talking to?"

I think most reasonable people realize that the voice they hear in their head is simply thought.

Fundies, and meglomaniacs, have so few actual thoughts that when one does occasionally rattle through their empty heads they can only assume that the voice came from elsewhere.


Chris

[NMMNG]

14. They also have this habit of "praying" on any significant decision

in their lives. (I have a few like this at work, and in some instances a "significant" decision can include things like determining what to do on Saturday).

So say Dumbya prays for advice on what to do about Iraq. During this prayer session he decides to go to war with Iraq and capture Saddam too, but in his mind god is giving him the orders. Then he doesn't have to feel so guilty for his actions, because he was just "following orders", i.e., god's orders.

[unrepuke]

27. I vas chust folloving orderss. Mein own. Ich bin der Kommander In

Chief. I MUST obey.

[dutchdemocrat]

29. Ya'

[cynatnite]

31. Do you think he'll use the 'it's gawd's fault' defense?

I'd love to see him play that blame game.

[annabanana]

17. heh. . . good one

Welcome to DU
:toast:

[Jackpine Radical]

32. Bush's Bicameral Brain...

Anybody around here remember Julian Jaynes?

[tblue37]

39. I LOVE that book.

I just let a friend borrow it last week. I must have lost a half dozen copies over the year because I keep letting friends borrow mine.

[newyawker99]

35. Hi chrisau214!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[cassiepriam]

20. Well, I doubt God will tell you to kill people... Must have been satan.

[unrepuke]

30. Why is Gawd the only one that talks to crazy people? I prefer

hearing from Mozart once in a while, but I wish he'd speak English

:crazy:

[LynnTheDem]

3. It also appeared in the UK Guardian, November 14, 2003;

Bush and Blair - the betrayal

The key to the road map's success was US support for the Palestinian prime minister, Abu Mazen, indispensable as a partner for peace, but regarded as a threat by both Sharon and Arafat. At the June summit on the road map, Bush told Abu Mazen: "God told me to strike at al-Qaida and I struck them; then he instructed me to strike at Saddam, which I did; and now I am determined to solve the problem in the Middle East. If you help me I will act."

http://www.guardian.co.uk/comment/story/0,3604,1084880,00.html

[Erika]

4. Bush and Blair need to answer for all their lies

and their usage of God for political purposes. It's time.

We're tired of their rhetorical crap.

[mr blur]

9. Well he's on the front page today:

Forgive me if I point out that a large part of the world is laughing at your Presnitdent

[AmyDeLune]

10. We'd laugh too...

but we're the ones locked in the attic with "Crazy Uncle George". :scared:

[dutchdemocrat]

15. Cool

Same image Chris on the blog yesterday as well....

http://www.chris-floyd.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=212&Itemid=1

[leftchick]

18. I am glad you all can laugh

most of us in AmeriKa arying...

:cry:

[SammyWinstonJack]

34. How can they not?

Freakin' looney tunes MoFo. :crazy: Personally I just think he is full of shit and full of himself, same thing really since he is shit.

[cynatnite]

5. And of course now the WH denies it...

The White House has dismissed as "absurd" allegations made in a BBC TV series that President Bush claimed God told him to invade Iraq.
"He's never made such comments," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said.

The comments were attributed to Mr Bush by the Palestinian negotiator Nabil Shaath in the upcoming TV series Elusive Peace: Israel and the Arabs.

Mr Shaath said that in a 2003 meeting with Mr Bush, the US president said he was "driven with a mission from God".

http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/print/news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4317498.stm

[melody]

6. David Berkowitz heard voices telling him to kill people, too

I wonder if they've questioned Barney.

Yet more evidence the man needs serious medication...or hospitalization...and probably both.

Actually, most likely this was just BS to cover his own bad choices -- he seems to have a short list for the blame game: 1) Clinton 2) God.

[Journeyman]

7. I'm convinced that most who claim to follow God's orders. . .

hear only the echo of their own voice.

[dutchdemocrat]

8. I'm convinced that most who claim to follow God's orders. . .

For crimes should be jailed.

[paineinthearse]

11. "God told me to strike at al Qaeda and I struck them..."

That phrasing sounds so much like * when he speaks without a teleprompter.

What a nutcase!

[CoffeeCat]

12. Want to be chilled to the bone--like I was??? Read this about Bush...

...because it clearly demonstrates the light-bulb moment when Bush realizes that religion can be exploited for political gain.

This is from "The Choice", a "Frontline" special about the political careers of Kerry and W.

I was chilled to my synapses when I saw this exchange about W's moment of clarity--when he realized that he could win elections by playing God-boy and culling votes from churchgoers.

The following is an excerpt from the "Frontline" special. The most damaging words are from Doug Wead, long-time Bush family friend and political adviser. At the time, I don't think Wead realized how revealing his words would be.

----excerpt from "The Choice"---

In 1988, George W. Bush came out of Texas to work on his father's campaign for president.


Early on in Iowa, they were facing an unexpected challenge from the Reverend Pat Robertson.

Robertson was demonstrating a new fact of political life: The religious right had become a very potent force.
<snip>

Doug Wead: Just before the vote in Iowa, when we saw we were going down, I convinced G.W. that he oughtta fly into Des Moines and visit with some of Robertson's people, and see how easy it is to build a relationship ... for his dad

<snip>

Wead: And the conclusion was afterwards, I said to G.W., we could take out every one of those churches, which are the foundation of the Robertson campaign, and we can emasculate his effort in the South. And you see we could do it very easily. And he saw it.

<snip>
Narrator: Wead says, along the way, George W. caught a glimpse of his own future.

Doug Wead: And sometimes he'd even say out loud, "Gaw, I could do this in Texas. This is what I could do in Texas." Almost salivate. "Wow." Say, "I could win the governorship of Texas with just the evangelical vote."

---end of excerpt---
The unedited version is at the bottom of the page, at the following link: http://americanradioworks.publicradio.org/features/choice/hour1.html

[Mutley]

16. I feel sorry and pissed off for the genuinely religious people

who fell for this crap -- some of my family included. Bush used and abused their faith in God for his own purposes. I may have serious political problems with the fundy side of my family, but they're still my family, and if they ever come to realize what a lie all this was based on they'll be crushed. And that really makes me angry.

[Missy M]

19. If bush really believes God talked to him then he truly is loony,

crazy, delusional and certainly should not be the president. If he uses God as a political ploy then he is simply a low life. Either way he is out of control and somehow has to be put in check the next three years.
I personally believe he is crazier than a mad dog.

[symbolman]

21. Speaking of praying over significant decisions

anyone ever see that Saturday Night Live where a housewife is doing everything for JESUS, she's cleaning for JESUS, she's cooking for JESUS, even Vaccuuming the stairs for JESUS, when Jesus shows up..

HE is very kind to her but kind of castigates her for praying over everything and using HIS name as HE's kind of busy..

"I understand you praying over something like cancer or a car accident, but.. sticky rice..?"

I was on the floor :)

As for hearing voices there are some psychologists that write about the Bi-Cameral brain of older humans, they claim that in very early days that when the greeks or romans "heard" the gods that they were actually falling victim to their corpus callosium (sp?) which apparently wasn't working full strength like it does now, due to our over stimulation maybe -- so in effect their right lobe was "talking" to the Left lobe of the brain sporatically, giving them visions, etc, and being misinterpreted as a "voice" that came from somewhere Else..

[SpiralHawk]

28. I believe it's corpus callosum - and in my view

a healthy brain does have a free flow of energy and information from both hemispheres -- and the corpus callosum is apparently the part of the brain that can serve as this bridge.

It is ruled by Chiron.

In my experience, visions are as real as any other part of life. But from where have the visions originated, and what lies behind them? In the right context, the visions can be enormously rich sources of insight; and in the wrong context they can be repulsive, fear-inducing, or zealot producing. I feel it all comes down to us, as individuals, with our free will and capacity for discernment. I have had many wonderful and true visions over the years, and I expect to have many more. In the traditions of this continent, it was normal to have spiritual insight and vision; you were only half human if you were just operating on intellect and material reality.

So for me Spirit Voices are not troubling in and of themselves. The recipient of such a voice, however, has a fundamental responsibility to weigh the nature, source and content of the message, and then to act responsibly out of his or her free will within the basic moral contexts of honesty, caring, sharing and respect. Just because something comes from the Other Side -- Spirit Side -- of life does not make it good or wise. That's up to us as individuals, and as I understand it, it is what FREEDOM is really all about.

Nota Bene: George W. Bush

[Rhiannon12866]

23. I was going to post this article, since it resonated with me, but you

articulated this so well, I'll just include it on your thread and post my own comments on this here, as well. This is something that we've been long aware of, that Bush* believes his warmongering marching orders come from God, but to see his actual comments in print is enough to make your hair stand on end. If anyone else said that God told him to attack Iraq, they'd be immediately strait-jacketed and put on anti-psychotic meds. That "the leader of the free world" is able to act on this, and get away with it, totally boggles the mind. Where are the guys with the butterfly nets when you need them?!

George Bush: 'God told me to end the tyranny in Iraq'

President told Palestinians God also talked to him about Middle East peace

http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,3604,1586883,00.html

[BurtWorm]

25. That smiley says it all!

[dutchdemocrat]

26. I think Floyd articulates it best here:

In his article from 2003

And this is the mindset – or rather, the primitive fever-dream – that is now directing the actions of the greatest military power in the history of the world. There can be no doubt that Bush believes literally in the divine character of his mission. He honestly and sincerely believes that whatever "decision" forms in his brain – out of the flux and flow of his own emotional impulses and biochemical reactions, the flattery and cajolements of his sinister advisers, the random scraps of fact, myth and fabrication that dribble into his proudly undeveloped and incurious consciousness – has been planted there, whole and perfected, by God Almighty.

And that's why Bush acts with such serenity and ruthlessness. Nothing he does can be challenged on moral grounds, however unethical or evil it might appear, because all of his actions are directed by God. He can twist the truth, oppress the poor, exalt the rich, despoil the earth, ignore the law – and murder children – without the slightest compunction, the briefest moment of doubt or self-reflection, because he believes, he truly believes, that God squats in his brainpan and tells him what to do.

And just as God countenanced deception on the part of Abraham, just as God forgave David for the murders he ordered, just as God blessed the armies of Saul as they obliterated the Amalekites, man, woman and child, so will He overlook any crime committed by Bush and his minions as they carry out His will. That's why Bush can always "do whatever it takes" to achieve his goals. And by his own words to Abbas, we see that he places his election in 2004 above all other concerns, even the endless bloodshed in the Middle East.

So what new crimes will the Lord have to countenance to keep His appointed servant in power?

http://www.chris-floyd.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=211&Itemid=5

[Callalily]

24. God's been speaking

to me for the last couple of days. He's been saying, "make tuna casserole", and you know what, I just think I will.

[corkhead]

33. Well, you can't argue with God, so we must support our Great Leader!!!

:banghead: :sarcasm:

[Festivito]

36. Sorry, debunked on Diane Rhem show from WH Scotty denial.

Somewhere in her 10am program DR read that Scott Mc had changed from no comment to outright denial of this god-spoke-to-* story.

http://www.wamu.org/programs/dr/

I don't have a Scotty WH transcript.

[dutchdemocrat]

38. I don't understand

What are you apologizing for? And what did Diane debunk in relation to the Chris Floyd article that you are commenting on?

[Festivito]

41. I hate that when that happens.

Apologizing for bearing unhappy news.

Scotty McClellan is quoted saying: "He's never made such comments," In other words the White House is fighting to say that Bush did not make the statements as quoted from second source Abbas in the Chris Floyd article.

Either Scotty is lying or doing some very fancy misleading. It may make this a more interesting story.

The article has link in this DU post:
Bush slammed over 'God's war' on Iraq
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1834887

The DU home page post:
God told me to invade Iraq, Bush tells Palestinian ministers
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1831216

[dutchdemocrat]

42. Sure.

Well, actually, the story is not 'debunked' because Scott is in denial - he's done this before. And...

I posted the rebuttal from the White House at Daily Kos hours ago... here as well as http://www.chris-floyd.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=212&Itemid=1">here at Chris-floyd.com.

Sorry... but your header is misleading by stating a debunking when it's clearly denial. Two different things.

[Festivito]

43. Diane herself DISMISSED the story BASED ON Scotty's say-so.

If you like dismissed better than debunked, I'd understand. However, to those listeners who went on to listen to music and typical media this story remains debunked as far as they are concerned.

This is a he-said-she-said story. It only furthers the divide in the country as such. I think we need to pull voters from the other side, not to just further entrench them.

The cover-up is a more damning story.

Thanks for the links.

Good that more people are testifying that they heard the original statements. I just hope and pray there is a recording. But, * has enough damage that a large group could be sufficient to reach his faltering base.

[mzmolly]

37. I didn't realize GOD was a signer on the original PNAC document?

Curiouser and curiouser.

Perhaps God told Bill Clinton to schtoop Monica Lewinsky too?

[YouthInAsia]

40. Spoke to god this morning, after a few bong hits, and he told me

(he was sitting next to me on the couch...you should see this guy. He looks like Abby Hoffman) that it was duty in life to kill squirrels. Thats my mission in life, apparently. Oh, and to eat waffles. So the remainder of my life will be spent killing squirrels and firing up my waffle maker. Whatever.

[DemGirl7]

44. Of Course God told Bush to invade Iraq...

just he said there wasn't going to be any casualties either according to Bush's fundie friend Pat Robertson :sarcasm: Boy, these people are as amusing as they are scary.

[jazzjunkysue]

45. I ordered the ham on rye. Never got it, either.