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Subscribe to RSSA stone's throw away from the White House, former President George W. Bush said today the world is in an "extraordinary" time for freedom and that the changes of the Arab Spring should be embraced despite the uncertain future that comes with them.
Bush said those who say the dangers of democratic change are too great and that America should be in favor of stability over change are unrealistic.
"In the long run, this foreign-policy approach is not realistic," Bush argued, "It is not realistic to presume that so-called stability enhances our national security. Nor is it within the power of America to indefinitely preserve the old order, which is inherently unstable."
Bush advocated a clear stand. "American's message should ring clear and strong," Bush said. "We stand for freedom -- and for the institutions and habit that make freedom work for everyone."
Bush's stance puts him at odds with some hard-liners in his party, who have considered Israel's interests in the region first. They have been critical of Hosni Mubarak's ouster and the political process that has followed, including the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood.
The U.S., led by Obama, has walked a fine line on intervention during the Arab spring. America was reticent at first to get involved in Egypt, because of the "stability," from an American perspective, that Mubarak represented. But eventually Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton embraced the changes.
The U.S. intervened in Libya, but only after building a multilateral approach and letting NATO take the lead. Some Republican presidential candidates knocked Obama for not intervening, and then others criticized him for getting involved at all. Newt Gingrich did both. The U.S. has not intervened in Syria, something Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) has been critical of Obama for not doing more on Syria.
Romney on a radio program in October called the Arab Spring "out of control." “We’re facing an Arab Spring which is out of control in some respects," he said, "because the president was not as strong as he needed to be in encouraging our friends to move toward representative forms of government."
He says on his website that what's happening in the Arab Spring is "doubled edged." And: "To protect our enduring national interests and to promote our ideals, a Romney administration will pursue a strategy of supporting groups and governments across the Middle East to advance the values of representative government, economic opportunity, and human rights, and opposing any extension of Iranian or jihadist influence. The Romney administration will strive to ensure that the Arab Spring is not followed by an Arab Winter."
Bush acknowledged that once these movements succeed in overthrowing a regime the hard work is not behind them. "After the euphoria, nations must deal with questions of tremendous complexity," he said, adding, "Problems once kept submerged by force must now be resolved by politics and consensus."
Bush and the former first lady were in town for the Washington launch of The Bush Center's Freedom Collection, which is an initiative to document the stories of dissidents. They were joined by Pastor Bob Fu the founder of ChinaAid and an advocate for Chinese dissident Chen Guangcheng and the newly elected member of parliament Daw Aung San Suu Kyi appeared from Myanmar via Skype. Pastor Fu said he hopes to see Mr. Chen and his family in the U.S. soon.
President Bush quipped at the top of his remarks that he found his freedom by leaving Washington.
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Dear Mr. Bush,
I know you will read what I’m about to say. The Arab spring was and still is dominated by the Muslim Brotherhood that their agenda is to eliminate the Jews from the face of the Middle East for a starter. They will not settle for less. I’m the author of the novel ‘Twins in Arms’ that you should read. I was 15 of age when I was in present when members of the Muslims brotherhood argued with a few leaders of the PLO to carry on with the Olympic Munich massacre attack. Maybe your unjust war against Iraq might be a good thing, but for the time being and for the being of our children, the Muslim Brotherhood are in control of what goes on in the Arab world with the conjunction with the Ayatollahs of Iran.
so...you think the world would be safer if hussein was still alive ?
Write that to OBAMA. The one adding troops to Afagan,Bombing Libya,bombing scientist in Iran,letting people suffer in Syria,arming rebels in Egypt.
Funny! There will be no Arab world when the Muslim Brotherhood take over.
Keck - Why are you so hung up on Hussein. What about Osama?
The man totally bankrupted America and the world by allowing the economic institutions to run themselves with impunity and then by using lies to start wars that accomplished little other than creating millions of new Jihadists hell-bent on killing westerners. Who cares what he thinks? If he is not in jail it is not a news story.
9/11 was a "lie" ?
...shame on you, you would never have the guts to say that out loud would you.
islamic terrorists killed thousands of americans before bush was ever elected. maybe you should ask bill clinton why he did nothing to stop bin laden.
...maybe you should ask bill clinton why he killed 1 million iraqis for wmds that he said were there
...maybe you should ask joe biden why he lied about wmds in iraq from 1994-2003
....maybe you are a hypocrite. ...well there is no "maybe" about that, you are a hypocrite viv.
you are full of hot air Mr. hypocrite.
The Iraque war should not of demanded intel for WMD's it should of started with Iraque violating the inspection requirements of his iraques surrender. We need to to but American people first ; Bush was right when he declared victory (that meant Iraque is a Territory of the US or we leave).
How come are troops are not home (Those men are not political pawns - They are protectors of this nation and if need be Allies not peace keepers and guards for civilians of our nations that are our enimies.
"Twice as smart and classy as the current residents of the White House." - you live in your own fantasy world.
Totally agree, they werent even 20% classier.
I got a great idea: pay attention to stupid Republican redneck hillbilly foreign policy here
Read and laugh. :)
racist much rob ?
Please tell me keck. How exactly?? Are hillbillies only one race??
you said "redneck" ...not me.
...but i will let you clarify rob
its a racist white slang
Okay keck. Are all rednecks of one race?? Let's be logical. Did I say all rednecks are one race. If so, where??
You changed it from hillbilly to redneck too. Why? Why exactly?? No general BS.
...do you know any black "redneck hillbilly" ?
there is no need to hurl racist remarks rob....you are well capable of getting your point across without it....you're above that kind of thing dude.
keck. You're WRONG. I do know a redneck black hillbilly in Georgia who just loves NEWT. Doesn't make sense to me but it's true. So therefore, you are wrong in this case. I never said all hillbillies or rednecks are of one race.
lmao guys:)
BTW, I'm white and proud
okay rob....i am not going to touch that one.
...but you do kind of come off as racist when you say something like "stupid redneck hillbilly" .
just sayin
Welp, to each is there own. I just go with what I read and can interpret.
rob, I'm white and proud too, darn, now keck won't touch me lol
hey gem, how are things ?.....you having a laugh at me and rob ?
doing fine, and yes, thank you for the laughs:)
Hey guys; why don't we step back a few paces and try to look at the forest instead of the trees. With few exceptions all of our ex-Presidents have appeared more intelligent and well intended after leaving office than when they sat in the oval office. Maybe we should try to analyze that for a while.
Although it may partially be due to them no longer having to bear the responsibility of the Presidency, I would not be surprised that we determine a major factor is the two political parties and their dogma keep intelligent well intended guys from doing what they know is best for our country until after they leave office and are no longer totally beholden to their party. Just a thought.
@!$%# said what?
I would take W any day over the narcissist, entirely over-rated blowhard we have at present. W was great with our troops. He and wife are far more genuine, real people than "BOMO" will ever be. W made very hard decisions that had to be made. He had many outstanding people in his circle compared to BO's nutty crowd.
W is a very underrated president. "BOMO" is constantly forced on us as if we may not ever have thoughts or feelings not in total sync with theirs. I am so sick of the continuous brainwashing to accept everything they think and do. I have known many people who are far superior educationally, morally, spiritually, and intellectually to BO+wife+cronies. I have never seen anything like the worshipful garbola they are treated to by our media. It's gross, tiresome, and disgusting.
So here's a hearty, sincere 'God bless' to W and family. Go ahead and hate me, whoever you all are- I honestly do not care one little bit.
In case W hasn't heard because of him and Cheney our ground army is broken !!! So all you that agree with him get your kids and grandkids down to the recruiting office and sign them up !!!
they've already served just like I did
The moron s peaks - forgets to inform us that he completely failed to read the historical legacy of the great Muslim Schism in the 7th century when he invaded, became liberators according to his cowardly VP, and then opened the floodgates between the two religions and they began to kill anything in sight. The moron speaks about the Arab Spring, and knows nothing of Islam nor the area for he slept with and was seduced by the Saudis and the royal family. The moron speaks as a man who is comfortable, eating regularly, making a ton of money speaking to one dimensional audiences, going to bed at 9:30 each night and taking a jog before clearing brush on his RANCH in Texas. The moron's legacy remains with us and will be with us for another generation:that's how much damage that moron managed to complete in 8 years
Obama/Biden 2012
Kasey - I agree. I really miss watching Letterman, The Daily Show, Saturday Night Live and the Colbert Report and laughing my butt off over the latest Bush gaff. I am beginning to believe that Bush wasn't inherently evil he was just ineffective and weak. Cheney was the one with the power. The Great OZ. He was like Dr Strangelove and a global sociopath. I have a grudging admiration for the fact that Bush went away and kept his mouth shut.
kim - I think you hit the nail on the head with W. Bush
I applaud Bush's remarks as reported in this article. America has got to be very careful about trying to dictate form of government another country chooses,particularly in the Middle East.
America needs to be wary about interfering or intervening in the Middle East. Even when they request assistance,it always seems to comes out negative for the U.S..
A better policy is to let the Arab countries take the lead. And in Syria, both Saudi Arabia and Turkey seem reluctant to do so. If they are reluctant to get involved, I think it behooves the U.S. to not rush in. I worry that it sounds like Obama might decide to get more involved in Libya. Until the surrounding Arab neighbors step up to the plate,I don't want to see the U.S. once again shoulder their burden and they take no responsibility.
I wish Romney would just come out and say what he wants us to do in the Middle East, rather than criticize and hint at strategy. The fact is it is up to the people of Egypt and the rest of the Middle East to decide what type of government they want. And they want an Islamic government - they just want it to be a moderate Islamic government. Personally,I'm not sure that's possible,but that's up to them - not the U.S.
Is Romney advocating that we go back to a policy of interfering, either overtly or covertly in these countries and placing whom we want in power? Is he advocating we go back to the CIA assasinating people we don't like as we did in Vietnam and South America? The replacements were always great./s/ Is he advocating that we should back coups? Like we did in Iran in '53? Or does he want us to intervene militarily when we don't like a government? When has this ever worked for us? The incoming government always turns out just as bad as the old regime and the people hate us. And eventually the new government turns against us anyway.
Puppet governments went out with the Cold War Romney,even Bush realizes this, now that he is not enslaved by Cheney and his ilk. Cast off those Cheney/Rove chains Romney and join us in the 21st Century where America lets the people of a country choose their own path.
I love this word. Finally, a way to describe Obama and his voters.
Ineptocracy (in-ep-toc’-ra-cy) - a system of government where the least capable to lead are elected by the least capable of producing, and where the members of society least likely to sustain themselves or succeed, are rewarded with goods and services paid for by the confiscated wealth of a diminishing number of producers
The problems we face today are there because... The people who work for a living, are outnumbered by those who vote for a living.
Jason, just keep on reading those books until you catch up.
Wow awesome comments all whom are bashing the loser!! keep up the bashing and send that loser packing. Bush and Cheney belong at the Hague getting tried along side Mladic today. If you do miss Bush why dont u move to Iraq or Afganistan and help his legacy over there. Bush is a Criminal
I certainly am not surprised to see George "Curveball" Bush come out in defense of the Saudi's, who were the ones who hit us on 9/11, while Republicans remain dumbfounded and clueless.
Mickey NY and Farting Redhead have spoken their 'pieces'...and still Bush comes out on top. Hey, sometimes it helps to have 'buffoons' on both sides the equation.
As far as GOP cringing or reeling at Mr. Bush's comments. I beg to differ, as Obie and Hollowood know, any press is good press.