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Dubya's statement to the press following the London terrorist bombings:
I spent some time recently with the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, and had an opportunity to express our heartfelt condolences to the people of London, people who lost lives. I appreciate Prime Minister Blair’s steadfast determination and his strength. He’s on his way now to London here from the G8 to speak directly to the people of London. He’ll carry a message of solidarity with him.This morning I have been in contact with our Homeland Security folks. I instructed them to be in touch with local and state officials about the facts of what took place here and in London, and to be extra vigilant, as our folks start heading to work.
The contrast between what we’ve seen on the TV screens here, what’s taken place in London and what’s taking place here is incredibly vivid to me. On the one hand, we have people here who are working to alleviate poverty, to help rid the world of the pandemic of AIDS, working on ways to have a clean environment. And on the other hand, you’ve got people killing innocent people. And the contrast couldn’t be clearer between the intentions and the hearts of those of us who care deeply about human rights and human liberty, and those who kill — those who have got such evil in their heart that they will take the lives of innocent folks.
The war on terror goes on. I was most impressed by the resolve of all the leaders in the room. Their resolve is as strong as my resolve. And that is we will not yield to these people, will not yield to the terrorists. We will find them, we will bring them to justice, and at the same time, we will spread an ideology of hope and compassion that will overwhelm their ideology of hate.
Thank you very much.
At first glance, there's nothing terribly notable there. He says what one might expect him to say. He expresses solidarity with and sympathy for the British people. Perfectly appropriate. He makes an attempt to soothe fears back home in the United States (remember, he's in Scotland) by assuring us that he's been in contact with Homeland Security and they'll be ratcheting up their efforts.
That's all well and good.
But then comes the self-aggrandizing. He speaks of the contrast between what's happening there in Scotland -- the G8 summit -- and what occurred in London this morning. Well, there's no doubt that this morning's bombings were brutal acts of violent aggression, and no matter what the goals and aims of the group behind the bombings might be, the slaughter of innocents as a means to an end cannot be brooked or defended.
But then, how many innocents has the United States maimed and slaughtered in Iraq, in a war built on lies and deception of Bush, Inc.? Tens of thousands.
Further, given the G8's questionable accomplishments of the past, it borders on pathological arrogance to claim that they are genuinely working on ways to alleviate poverty, to rid the world of AIDS, to have a clean environment. The other leaders at the summit may care about those issues, but George W. Bush has shown a decided disinterest in them. On the contrary, poverty has increased in the U.S. since he was appointed (not elected) president, and he's shown precious little concern over it. He hasn't delivered on even the meagre promises he has made regarding financial support for the fight against AIDS in Africa. And his assault on vital environmental laws on behalf of corporate interests in the United States has been full-blown and unrelenting.
Consider his words again: "[T]he contrast couldn’t be clearer between the intentions and the hearts of those of us who care deeply about human rights and human liberty, and those who kill — those who have got such evil in their heart that they will take the lives of innocent folks."
Sadly, Bush, Inc. is made up of people who fit squarely in the latter camp. The American people, on the whole, certainly care about human rights and human liberty, but this president sullies those very precious concepts by daring to speak of them aloud.
That our president would use this morning's tragic events to pat himself on the back as if he were delivering a campaign speech in Toledo is shameful.
Posted by brett at 12:44 PM | TrackBack