Just More Imperialist Rhetoric

January 27, 2005

Even sources as removed from the action as Japan Today.com noticed that Bush's inaugural speech last week was "shorn of all but the most glancing references to the dominant political issues of the day." Indeed, Bush barely said anything at all, but the speech was hardly fluff. An inaugural is a chance to set the tone for a presidency, and presidential speechwriter Michael Gerson's soaring oratory about bringing liberty to the rest of the world whether they like it or not is very indicative of the approach our foreign policy will take in the next four years.

The address itself was bland tripe, but the subtext was extremely radical if you take the time to translate the fuzzy rhetoric about "ending tyranny" and "spreading liberty." Apparently, America will no longer rest on its laurels waiting for the inherent evil of tyranny to manifest as an actual threat. Instead, knowing that these tyrannical countries will always be a danger to freedom and democracy, we will pro-actively blow the hell out of other countries before they can even think about actually crossing us.

Bush is basically declaring an intention to extend the first-punch policy set by our preemptive invasion of Iraq to cover the rest of what we determine to be "un-free" countries. WMDs are no longer a factor. When the "Danger, danger! It's Al Qaed-I mean Sadam! He has a nuke! 9/11! 9/11!" tactic failed in the wake of Saddam's utter lack of serious armament, Bush switched over to the "Well, they needed liberating anyway!" excuse. Now, he's quietly pulled the old switcheroo, and Americans are actually thinking, "Maybe we should just invade the hell out of Iran. I mean, they are jerks...." Does anyone else remember the days when America only blew up countries that at least spat on our shoes or something first?

Bush said, "From the perspective of a single day, including this day of dedication, the issues and questions before our country are many. From the viewpoint of centuries, the questions that come to us are narrowed and few: Did our generation advance the cause of freedom?" This ends-justify-the-means mentality is pervasive in this administration. Condie Rice said in her senate hearing, "I know enough about history to stand back and to recognize that you judge decisions not at the moment but in how it all adds up." I believe the sentiment being expressed by both the President and the soon-to-be Secretary of State was put most succinctly by Fidel Castro, who said, "History will absolve me."

This week's disturbing precedent! According to tnr.com, Maryland Governor Robert Ehrlich threw an "invitation only" press conference, excluding two Baltimore Sun writers who exposed, among other things, his plan to sell state forest area to politically connected land developers. This kind of press selection is unconscionable, and I sincerely hope the writers file suit. This is a violation of the constitutionally guaranteed freedom of the press, and free press is a scarce enough resource as things stand these days.

See www.i-55.com/~q for a rehash of why Bush's privatization plan is garbage and for an InfoDump link to the President's inaugural address. Also, this semester I've got a talk show on KNWD 91.7 FM every Friday morning from 8:00 to 10:00. Call 357-KNWD to tell all of Natchitoches what you have to say or mail saucefiller@gmail.com if you have comments you'd like to have read on the air