An Egregious Failure of Duty

There is much discussion these days as to the proper course of action in Iraq. This is a vitally important question, one which the President, the Congress and the American people should take seriously and give thoughtful consideration to. The outcome of this war, now that we've launched it and are caught deep in the quagmire, has tremendous implications for the future of the Middle East and the security of the United States.

Equally important is the discussion regarding the failings of the administration in the run up to this endeavor. We all recall the rage and violation that we felt on September 11, 2001. While I personally have never liked George W. Bush or felt he was a legitimate President, I supported him whole heartedly in the days immediately after 9/11 and was completely in favor of going into Afghanistan to clean out that sewer of terrorists and radical Islamic fundamentalists. Indeed this feeling was prevalent throughout the country in early 2002. At that time, 76% of Americans approved of the job Bush was doing in dealing with the war on terrorism.

When the United States sorely needed a leader who would conduct a real international campaign against terrorism and its causes using skill and determination, Bush chose instead to unilaterally declare war on a state that did not and never had represented a terrorist threat. He and his minions shirked their duty and used the vicious attack on the US as an excuse to attack Iraq and enrich campaign contributors. His duty was to protect Americans, not unnecessarily thrust American troops into harm's way. His duty was to decrease the threat of terrorism, not fuel it. His duty was to judiciously use the goodwill towards the US that was prevalent after 9/11, not squander it.

George W. Bush failed in his duty to the country.