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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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I miss your leadership Mr. President. Your detractors are everywhere but you led this country wtih a conviction forged by an unwavering sense of right and wrong. Our current President lacks that fortitude. He is a puppet for special interests and focus groups. Mr. Bush you were one of the greatest leaders this country had in the last 100 years. Time and history will prove that to be true.
lol, bush was the worst case situation...someone who was ignorant but didn't realize he was. He's the most dangerous person...someone not afraid of using the power (including military) of the american presidency, but who was thoroughly clueless about, oh, the world, foreign affairs, etc.
Consistent incompetency isn't good leadership, no matter how consistent it is.
I disagree. He had just the type of strength and clarity of vision we needed after the this nation suffered the way it did on 9/11. He may not have been eloquent but his vision was in sync with what the country needed. To me, that is more obvious now that we can compare his successful 8 years with the 4 disappointing years the current visionless President has had.
Vermontguy... Bush stood for freedom and wasn't afraid to make unpopular decisions to spread the example of America's freedom worldwide. Liberals like you cannot stand true Americans. Instead of trying to change the culture of this country, you should embrace it or get out.
Vermontguy... Bush stood for freedom and wasn't afraid to make unpopular decisions to spread the example of America's freedom worldwide. Liberals like you cannot stand true Americans. Instead of trying to change the culture of this country, you should embrace it or get out.
John...bush was a low class piece of crap without an original thought or idea. It was through his "leadership" we became a second class nation with a weakened economy.Personally, i will always believe 9/11 occurred because others knew he was a wimp. The only thing that grew was our divisiveness and a condoning of the religious sects who continue to destroy this country.
Why don't you look into the money bush and cheney made during the war afghanastan war that was diverted to iraq for bushs' personal vendetta.
Need i continue the list?
Our greatest day of freedom came the day he left office and it continues to grow with a strong president like obama.
Yes, 9/11 was a terrible event for all Americans. Now that we agree on something, could one of you Bush supporters please tell me again why we invaded Iraq and lost over 4,500 American service members lives and several billions of dollars?
To effect regime change would have taken just one phone call to Seal Team Six.
Bruce
Saddam Hussein paid out over 35 million dollars to Arab jihadists for killing Jews and Americans. The following Americans were killed by those who took Saddam's blood money. Leaving aside all other reasons, this alone was sufficient reason for the US to take out Saddam Hussein
According to employees of the Iraqi Central Bank and the Rafidain Bank, the former Iraqi ambassador to Jordan, Sabah Yassen, withdrew money from the accounts to make payments ranging from $15,000 to $25,000 to the families of Palestinian suicide bombers, Hyde said.
Palestinians have said Saddam paid more than $35 million to families of Palestinians killed or wounded in the conflict with Israel that began in September 2000.
http://www.cbsnews.com/2100-500257_162-656284.html
November 4, 2001, Jerusalem, Israel. Shoshana Ben-Yishai, 16, of Queens, NY was killed in a shooting at a bus station. U.S. citizen injured: Shlomo Kaye.
December 2, 2001, Jerusalem, Israel. Bombing on Ben-Yehuda Street, Jerusalem. U.S. citizens injured: Ziv Brill, 17, of West Hempstead, Long Island, NY, Temima Spetner, 19, of St. Louis, MI, Jason Kirshenbaum of New Rochelle, NY, Israel Hirschfield, 18, Joseph Leifer, 29, of Borough Park (Brooklyn), NY.
December 18, 2001, shooting on the Jerusalem-Shilo road. U.S. citizens injured: David Rubin, 44, of Brooklyn, NY, Asher "Ruby" Rubin, 3.
January 15, 2002, Bethlehem, West Bank. Avraham Boaz, 71, of New York, a dual Israeli-American citizen, was kidnapped at a PA security checkpoint in Beit Jala and murdered.
January 18, 2002: Shooting in Hadera. U.S. citizen killed: Aaron Elis, 32, son of Chicago family.
January 22, 2002: Shooting in Jerusalem, Israel. U.S. citizen injured: Shayna Gould, 19, of Chicago, IL
January 27, 2002, Jerusalem, Israel. A Palestinian woman triggered a massive explosion in downtown Jerusalem killing one elderly Israeli and injuring more than 150, including American Mark Sokolow, his wife, and 16 and 12-year-old daughters. Sokolow had earlier survived the September 11 attack on the World Trade Center, escaping from his law office on the 38th floor of the South Tower before it collapsed.
February 8, 2002, Jerusalem, Israel. Stabbing in Abu Tor Peace Forest Jerusalem. U.S. citizen killed: Moranne Amit, 25
February 15, 2002, near Ramallah, West Bank. Lee Akunis was shot to death.
February 16, 2002: Bombing in Karnei Shomron. U.S. citizens killed: Keren Shatsky, 14, of Brooklyn, NY and Maine, Rachel Thaler, 16, of Baltimore, MD. U.S. citizens injured: Lior Thaler, 14, of Baltimore, MD, Hillel Trattner of Chicago, IL, Ronit Yucht Trattner of Chicago, IL, Chani Friedman of New York.
February 19, 2002: Shooting near Neve Dekalim. U.S. citizens injured: Moshe Saperstein of New York.
February 25, 2002, Jerusalem, Israel. Moran Amit, 25, was stabbed to death in Abu Tor Peace Forest in Jerusalem.
March 7, 2002, Eshel Hashomron Hotel, Ariel, Israel. A Christian tourist from Arkansas lost her right eye in an attack by a suicide bomber.
March 21, 2002, Jerusalem, Israel. Bombing on a Jerusalem street. U.S. citizens injured: Alan Joseph Bauer, 37, of Chicago, Yonathon Bauer, 7 (dual U.S.-Israeli citizenship).
March 24, 2002, Ofra, Israel. Shooting near Ofra. U.S. citizens killed: Esther Kleinman, 23, formerly of Chicago, IL.
March 27, 2002, Netanya, Israel. U.S. citizen Hannah Rogen, 90, was killed in a suicide attack at a Passover Seder.
March 31, 2002, Efrat, Israel. Bombing in Efrat. U.S. citizens injured: An unidentified American citizen.
June 18, 2002, Jerusalem, Israel. Moshe Gottlieb, 70, of Los Angeles, CA was killed in a bus bombing in Jerusalem.
June 19, 2002, Jerusalem, Israel. Gila Sara Kessler, 19, whose family came from New York, was killed in a bombing at a bus stop.
July 31, 2002, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel. Nine people were killed when a bomb exploded in the main cafeteria at the Hebrew University's Mount Scopus campus in Jerusalem. Five were U.S. citizens: Janis Ruth Coulter, 36, of MA; Marla Bennet, 24, of San Diego, CA; David Gritz (also a French citizen), 24, of Peru, MA; Benjamin Blutstein, 25, of Susquehanna Township, PA; and Dina Carter, 37, of NC. Israelis David Ladovsky, 29, and Levina Shapira, 53 also died in the bombing. U.S. citizens injured: Spencer Dew, 26, of Owensboro, Kentucky; Zeev Spencer; Harris Gershon; Jamie Harris. Hamas claimed responsibility for the attack.
March 5, 2003: Bus bombing in Haifa. U.S. citizens killed: Abigail Leitel, 14, who was born in Lebanon, New Hampshire.
March 7, 2003: Shooting in the victims’ home. U.S. citizens killed: Rabbi Eli Horowitz, 52, who grew up in Chicago; Dina Horowitz, 50, who grew up in Florida
http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Terrorism/usvictims.html
The Iraq was was justified on Material Breach; a MB stated by the Clinton Administration and the UN. That additional fact fully justified the resumption of hostilities from the 1992 Gulf War Cease Fire Agreement under international law.
Two of the Three parties to that Cease Fire Agreement (signed by Gen Norman Schwarzkopf) were the US and UK who legally resumed military action
August 31, 1998: Former UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter is interviewed for PBS Newshour
September 3, 1998: Ritter testifies in a similar manner before the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services and the Committee on Foreign Relations on U.S. policy regarding Iraq weapons inspection and Iraq's capacity to reconstitute weapons of mass destruction in a very short period of time.
Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi
Statement on U.S. Led Military Strike Against Iraq
December 16, 1998
As a member of the House Intelligence Committee, I am keenly aware that the proliferation of chemical and biological weapons is an issue of grave importance to all nations. Saddam Hussein has been engaged in the development of weapons of mass destruction technology which is a threat to countries in the region and he has made a mockery of the weapons inspection process.
http://www.house.gov/pelosi/priraq1.htm
September 23, 2002: "Iraq does pose a serious threat to the stability of the Persian Gulf and we should organize an international coalition to eliminate his access to weapons of mass destruction. Iraq's search for weapons of mass destruction has proven impossible to completely deter and we should assume that it will continue for as long as Saddam is in power." -- Al Gore, 2002
Leaving Hussein no hope will trigger his worst weapons, U.S. envoy in historic '90 meeting
By Joseph C. Wilson
LA Times Op-Ed
February 6 2003
Saddam Hussein is a murderous sociopath whose departure from this Earth would be welcomed everywhere.
There is now no incentive for Hussein to comply with the inspectors or to refrain from using weapons of mass destruction to defend himself if the United States comes after him.
And he will use them; we should be under no illusion about that.
Hussein and Aziz both told me directly that Iraq reserved the right to use every weapon in its arsenal if invaded, just as it had against Iran and later the Kurds.
Now, however, if he feels his death is inevitable, he may well arm extremist groups in an attempt to have a last, posthumous laugh.
http://tinyurl.com/2oxmfk
October 9, 1998: "[W]e urge you, after consulting with Congress, and consistent with the U.S. Constitution and laws, to take necessary actions (including, if appropriate, air and missile strikes on suspect Iraqi sites) to respond effectively to the threat posed by Iraq's refusal to end its weapons of mass destruction programs." - Letter to President Clinton. - Senators Carl Levin, Tom Daschle, John Kerry, others,
Wired magazine's contributing editor Noah Shachtman -- a nonresident fellow at the liberal Brookings Institution -- researched the 400,000 WikiLeaked documents released in October. Here's what he found: "By late 2003, even the Bush White House's staunchest defenders were starting to give up on the idea that there were weapons of mass destruction in Iraq. But WikiLeaks' newly-released Iraq war documents reveal that for years afterward, U.S. troops continued to find chemical weapons labs, encounter insurgent specialists in toxins and uncover weapons of mass destruction (emphasis added). ... Chemical weapons, especially, did not vanish from the Iraqi battlefield. Remnants of Saddam's toxic arsenal, largely destroyed after the Gulf War, remained. Jihadists, insurgents and foreign (possibly Iranian) agitators turned to these stockpiles during the Iraq conflict -- and may have brewed up their own deadly agents."
In 2008, our military shipped out of Iraq -- on 37 flights in 3,500 barrels -- what even The Associated Press called "the last major remnant of Saddam Hussein's nuclear program": 550 metric tons of the supposedly nonexistent yellowcake. The New York Sun editorialized: "The uranium issue is not a trivial one, because Iraq, sitting on vast oil reserves, has no peaceful need for nuclear power. ... To leave this nuclear material sitting around the Middle East in the hands of Saddam ... would have been too big a risk."
http://townhall.com/columnists/larryelder/2010/12/09/the_wikileaks_vindication_of_george_w_bush/page/full/
Change using the BUSH/CHENEY way through war sure has not worked over there.
Changes cannot be made overnight. Changes can be made if we stay focused and determined.
George Bush should be arrested for war crimes. He orchestrated a war that killed 110,000 innocent civilians in Iraq.
I did not agree with Iraq but that war was voted on by a huge bipartisan majority in Congress and funded by them. Callaway do you agree with sending drones to countries we are not at war with and dropping bombs to kill innocent people as long as we get some terrorists or to put it another way if Bush had ordered it instead of Obama would you still defend it?
Arrested for what? He removed a ruthless dictator. War is hell, and casualties of innocents are unfortunate but a reality of hunting down cowards that will use innocent civilians as shields.
Jerry, the bipartisan vote by Congress in support of going into Iraq was supported by lies from the Bush Administration.
John, tell me what role Saddam played in 9/11?
Bruce,
Would you call President Clinton a liar
"The community of nations may see more and more of the very kind of threat Iraq poses now: a rogue state with weapons of mass destruction, ready to use them or provide them to terrorists. If we fail to respond today, Saddam and all those who would follow in his footsteps will be emboldened tomorrow." -- Bill Clinton in 1998
or his Secretary of State Albright:
"Saddam's goal ... is to achieve the lifting of U.N. sanctions while retaining and enhancing Iraq's weapons of mass destruction programs. We cannot, we must not and we will not let him succeed." -- Madeline Albright, 1998
The list goes on and on
Bush went after saddam because he made a threat against bush sr. He was too much of a wimp to do it for any other reason but that, money or cheneys puppet strings.
sbstarlite.
look at the quotes above what reason did they have to make those comments
Only a war criminal could get away speaking such words. The sad thing it was spoken by the new version of an Amerikkkan.
..because all white americans are kkk.
sure buddy....go smoke some more crack rock
I hear how much better we are respected around the world now with Bush gone and Obama in charge and I am trying to figure out where:
Iran and Venezuela still hate us. Russia has no respect for the President even after we gave up the missile system for nothing. Israel does not trust him. His approval rating in South America is 29% and he just got attacked at the OAS meeting. China does whatever they want with no fear. France and Germany told him to get his house in order before telling them about their fiscal problems. North Korea continues to try and send missiles into space even though he has tried to bribe and threaten them,
He went to India to make sure they bought our fighter jets and they bought the French ones, He went to Copenhagen to get the Olympics and we were voted out on the first ballot. The list goes on and on so somebody please tell me where are we loved and respected.
Jerry, been to Europe lately? Canada? Japan? The people who work for my former company have and are amazed at how badly Bush was perceived and how refreshing Obama is. Just thought I'd tell you that Obama is well liked by the people and the press in many places where Bush was ignored at best and detested at worse.
Actually yes quite often and the people do like him, but my point was the governments have no respect for him. Was I wrong on any of the items I listed above?
Actually I think he said something smart there. (yes I was surprised)
He was saying that change is good as opposed to sticking with the old ways.
Obama 2012.
There is no difference between W. Bush and Hitler
The only differences between the two.. Hitler was send to kill the Jews and W. Bush was send to kill the Muslims
Both are access of Evil.. Hell.. can't wait for you Bush and your followers.. to be transfer from this life to the next...
you will pay for all the lifes of all the victims who suffered and died under your Brutal regime one way or another!
You're delusional. Bush saved millions of Muslim lives by taking action in removing Sadam Husein. Casualties of innocents during war is regretable but cannot be totally avoided.
So Bush had 7,000,000 people killed during his time in office. I missed that memo. I also looked right over the concentration camps. I also remember that Sadam was not at faullt for any deaths in his country of Iraqi citizens. I am still curious as to the numbers people on this site talk about of hundreds of thousands of people dying. We lost around 5,000 troups. Does anyone know that during the whole WWII we were losing 416 US soldiers A DAY!!!!!? for 4 years. Between WWI and WWII we lost 521,915 soldiers and now we lost 5,000 in the IRAQ/Afgan wars. Were not those lives any more precious than any other life? go back to your BOLD life to try and make a point and read a little.
To both of you :
Innocent life were regretable.....but could not be avoided!!!W.Bush choose the hard way! there were options on the table but he didnt care about innocent people! a little child could of took Sadam or a sniper and get it over with..W.Bush was one of the worse president in the history of America... he had to win the election by the help of his in law florida Gov. scam...what a shame! I have no respect for W. Bush But I respect your opinion on this matter but I hope W. Bush go to Helland bill clinton actually killed 1 million innocent iraqis, mainly women and children with sanctions from 1993-2000
...thats the largest number of deaths since the vietnam war.
do you hope bill clinton goes to hell for murdering 1 million women and children as well ?
Keck : I dont care about Clinton or you... one thing I believe in... whatever who you think you are on earth..King or Not! if you get away with crimes here.. know for sure that you will not get away with crimes after you die...
every one is responsible for their own crimes and will pay the price one way or another! no one escapes God Justice.. I mean no one.
When someone die is only a small step to what's awaiting you.. many bigger steps to go through you would wish if you never committed any sin.. May God have mercy on us Amen
Doubtless, G. W. Bush and Jimmy Carter will go down as two really bad presidents. Bush decided to conduct two endless wars without paying for them. No one will ever know his motivations. I believe he thought he was right. In terms of gain he was clearly wrong. Carter got into the White House because of Nixon and Obama got in because of Bush. In order for the left to gain government conservatives (the haves) have to really mismanage things. Bush was no Nixon. Nixon was a better president that deserved to go to prison and Bush was a worse president that is apparently a fine man. Timing is everything in life.
And Maobama continues his policies. In fact he already intervened in Libya (what no WMD? sound familiar?). He wants to intervene in Syria. Showdown with Iran is looming.
He continued to wage war in Afghanistan. To what end?
Obama is by far the worst president in history. He did not learn from W's mistakes.
Where the hell was this Bush when he was president? I've heard more intelligence out of his mouth in the last year then I did the entire time he was in the White House.
What you heard during the Bush presidency was Cheney's voice coming from George's mouth.
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. The rise of the Muslim Brotherhood is more of a danger than Mubarak was to the USA and Israel..Out with the old and in with the new hard liners. Conservative religous fanatical types that are evil and control the wealth beating liberals into poverty , Mitt Romney types that hate liberals and their demands and will stone or hang them without a trial..
Bush must be trying to do some kind of favor for his friends in Saudi Arabia.
War !
GW carries a big stick !
this jack off should crawl back under the rock he came out off . " worst president " of recent times . bush makes nixon look like a saint . a complete traitor and a liar , i hope this son of a bitch pays one of these days for lying to the american public
this jack off should crawl back under the rock he came out off . " worst president " of recent times . bush makes nixon look like a saint . a complete traitor and a liar , i hope this son of a bitch pays one of these days for lying to the american public
this IDIOT should crawl back under the rock he came out off . " worst president " of recent times . bush makes nixon look like a saint . a complete traitor and a liar , i hope this son of a b pays one of these days for lying to the american public
this clown should crawl back under the rock he came out off . " worst president " of recent times . bush makes nixon look like a saint . a complete traitor and a liar , i hope this son of a b pays one of these days for lying to the american public
this clown should crawl back under the rock he came out off . " worst president " of recent times . bush makes nixon look like a saint . a complete traitor and a liar , i hope this son of a b pays one of these days for lying to the american public
this clown should crawl back under the rock he came out off . " worst president " of recent times . bush makes nixon look like a saint . a complete traitor and a liar , i hope this son of a b pays one of these days for lying to the american public
this clown should crawl back under the rock he came out off . " worst president " of recent times . bush makes nixon look like a saint . a complete traitor and a liar , i hope this son of a b pays one of these days for lying to the american public
When the Arab spring is poisoned by the Sharia mobs and becomes another Islamic rogue state, what will we say then? Oh I know what it will be.
"It's all Bush's fault"
Liberalism ! ehh !
Bush was a better president than this baboon we have now. No question about it.
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// Yeah right don't be dissappointed if they even hate us more still saying "death to the great satan". SOS ! Blame it on the LIBERALS ! Conservatives are accepted and respected by Islamists thety are more like themselves this is why GW knows best .
well, after bill clinton and the democrats in congress killed over 1 million iraqis with sanctions and bombing of suspected wmd sites in the 90s...i am glad we ended up killing hussein. this was the spark for the arab spring...of which obama takes credit for now.
...now if we could only help the syrians with their freedom.
Keck, Must have been a small spark to smolder for nine years since we invaded Iraq.