Two Years Later:
Bush Still Clinging to World Police Instead of World Peace
Bernard L Brock (published in the November 1, 2003 Michigan Citizen)
Two years after the tragic attack and destruction of New York's Twin Trade
Towers and Bush's military attacks on Afghanistan and Iraq in the name of
a "War on Terrorism," the United State finds itself bogged down
in what appears to be an endless and expensive terrorist conflict with the
Arab world.
Facing mounting criticism at home and abroad, Bush reluctantly requested
additional troops for Iraq from the UN, while he also made it perfectly clear
the US would not give up the decision-making power. Bush gave the appearance
of modifying his Iraqi stance without actually changing it. Thus, he stubbornly
clung to the wrong "War on Terrorism."
Today, more than one American soldier has been killed every day since President
George W. Bush declared "victory" in Iraq. In fact, more Americans
have died since he declared "victory" than before his statement.
Within two years, the Bush's "War on Terrorism" and arrogant pre-emptive
attack on Iraq has turned world public opinion, including some of our closest
allies, against the United States, has de-stabilized the entire Middle East;
and has tacitly given Israel permission to isolate Arafat, bring the Palestinians
to their knees and pre-emptively attack Syria.
Finding ourselves powerless, having no idea how long this war will last or
what "terrorist" country Bush will decide to attack next, Americans
must ask, "How did we possibly get here?" I suggest that this tragic
situation resulted from a series of very bad decisions made by President Bush:
President Bush's leadership is a formula for an American disaster. Sadly,
it is too late to withdraw from Iraq. That would only lead to further chaos.
However, it is not too late to change our course and move in the direction
that we should have gone at the start.
We've already asked the UN to play a greater role. We should continue to
supply leadership, but we should also swallow our pride and hand the primary
decision-making control over to those who will establish a more credible multilateral
approach, the UN. Thus, the US would no longer assume the role of the world
police. Next, attention should shift away from crushing small Arab countries
with our military superiority and focus on bringing about international coordination
and cooperation on intelligence and investigative activities for routing out
terrorism.
These actions would change the war's focus and release resources from other
countries that would enable the nations of the world to bring to justice the
terrorists without significantly increasing hatred against the West.
Bernard L. Brock teaches political communication at both Wayne State
and Oakland Universities.