E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
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.
Leave a Comment:
Hey - idiot crybaby liberals (that was redundant) - what did President Bush do wrong? Not one of you has ANY IDEA !!! You just know how to parrott the liberal media, and be mad a Bush for no reason. Complain about Rush Limbaugh while you are at it ..... I haven't heard any LEGITIMATE complaints about him, either !!!
Jim -
Iraq ring a bell? Dick Cheney, come to mind? 2000 election? Debt? Those are a few but there are many more reasons! He was incompetent and is a war criminal!
And Rush Limbaugh is a big fat idiot drug addict.
IRAQ was a bipartisan thing and Democrats were threatening to invade before Bush came office in office.
The 2000 election was very close and Bush legally won a majority of electoral votes . His admin did add to debt as all other presidents admin have for decades. I don't think we want to charge him and all senators that authorized spending on IRAQ as war criminals.
I really don't see that Most Bush policies have not changed with the current admin.
Keck AND Larry Robinson......Keep bringing them FACTS because they always counter with attacks and bravado.
Liberals can't think on their own and can't handle truth.
Thank you
This goof in the White House now is like a lifeguard that can't swim but has a nice smile and great excuses.
thx Chipper
I have a well stocked digital library of facts to hit them with
Bush even used Obama's favorite word 'extraordinary'.
Now Obama can blame Bush.
and Obama is 0 for 8 on his promises ..... he pleases no one, to be sure. Even his "constituents" don't like him anymore.
Let's talk on November 7 Jim!
I may not like everything he's done (or hasn't done) in his first term, but I'll still take him any day over the tards the republicans threw at us. Romney? Really? That's best you have to offer?
Who cares what a convicted war criminal thinks...?
http://www.foreignpolicyjournal.com/2012/05/12/bush-convicted-of-war-crimes-in-absentia/
Really. That's funny. A bunch of Liberals get together an make up trial. Maybe the right wings should do that to Obama. Libya,Afagan, Iran,North Korea,Iraq. Bet the right wing could easily convict Obama also. Hell what President wouldn't be?
It's always good to hear from Bozo The Clown--I don't draw any conclusions until he has voiced his brilliance.
Obama was not in this discussion.
When i saw the headline I couldn't wait to sign on to read all the comments from the S***eating flies. Suck it up gals and fellas, we have had to listen to that douchebag clinton for years.
The cause for America's problems shouldn't be speaking about anything. He's lucky he's not inprison for the crimes he committed.
Didn't you see? He and Cheney were convicted of war crimes in absentia just recently. However, Ihave to say I actually agree with Georgie on this one. We can't have our cake and eat it too. We want freedom in the region? Then we can't complain when citizens of the newly free nations elect a government that we don't necessarily approve of.
The war crimes your president voted for. Congress voted for. The Senate voted for. Get REAL! Obama bombing Libya WITHOUT Congress approval or Senate approval. There should be WAR CRIMES.
Bush should get a life and hang around with all people he helped get richer from the poor worth less FECAL MATTER
You mean Obama right. The one who gave our money in bailouts to the CEO's. Get it right moron.
I guess the fact that our economy is in the tank, unemployment is STILL catastrophically high , and a lot higher than reported and higher than the White House is willing to admit.
None of Obama's" buddies in the press wants to talk about it.
Could that have anything to do with the upcoming election ???
The Media wouldn't try to rig an election would they ?
IT MUST BE A SECRET.
Talk about anything other than jobs and the economy !
ITS Good "He Found His Freedom In Leaving Washington" ?
Pity the Rest of the Country had to go to Debtors Prison !
Please will someone take him back to His Brand New House in Houston !
PS - What a Looser!
You are an Idiot. Wall Street paid for Obamas election. Didn't Obama bail out the auto industry, all those banks and insurance companies. The one YOU say Bush helped. You are really confused. Know the facts. Big business gets their money from Obama. That who they are paying to take care of them.
....doesn't sound like there is going to be much stability anyway...wasn't it just last week reported that 60% of Egypians want their new government to abandon the Egypt-Israel peace treaty signed back in the '70's?
Sure, we can embrace change over there in the Mid East - as long as we also embrace utilizing the production of ALL our local natural resources of oil & natural gas, cause it gonna get a lot more ugly over there.
I cannot believe I am saying this, and I may never write these words again, but right on President Bush! We can no longer continue to prop up dictators around the world and think that makes us safe. It makes us UNsafe.
President Dubya got this one right.
Like reading about the drunken little lying bush?
Here's where you can find reading material that will last you for years.
Google: Worst President Ever
Just focus on the hits from respected historians. That will cut your hits down from millions to a few thousand.
I think in a few years Our current president will get a great deal of support for that title also once folks see the effects of all the kicking problems down the road.
Wow, I just googled it and Obama's name takes up the first 10,000 pages.
...gotta love the 'respected historians' line though, like who decides that? Is there a Respected Historians Society out there where you got to pay dues or something?
...partisan hacks from the left lacking objectivity on FirstRead - big surprise...
he's 100% right! you go with the freedom movements,your'e not guaranteed they'll turn out for democracy but you have a 50-50 chance,you go for "stability" you'll just postpone the day of reckoning with a 0% chance for democracy.
Can anybody really take George Bush serious anymore? We don't miss you yet George so crawl back under that rock you came out from under and STFU.
He is better than Obama. Duh? Obama sucks. NO backbone. Blames everybody for HIS problems. What a wimp. Nobody respects us with this joker in office.
This was about the smartest thing I've ever heard come out of GWB's mouth. Take it where you can get it in this day and age.
You morons that continue to attack Bush have no clue on what the process is/was for the decisions made by a sitting President. If you understood how the decisions were arrived at and by whom (not just Bush/Cheney)you would actually have to think which would be hard for you.
Its easier to attack, shout, and blame. Left, Right, makes very little difference so get off your soapboxes.
By the way If Bush was so dumb how did he manage to surround himself with people that were highly thought of like Rice and Powell? And how did he "mislead" all those in Congress and the Senate to go along with these decisions. Because they, unlike you, knew the process and understood how the decisions to go into the Middle East were arrived at. And that friends, is why despite all your rantings for him to be "jailed" or facing "war crimes" he isn't.
I agree dbcooper. The easiest thing in the world is play Monday Morning quarterback. The folks do do have all the intelligence that Bush was getting from military .
Bush policies are not as much different from Obama except I believe Obama would give politicians much more control of everything if he had his way and go way more for socialism.
Re elect W. Screw Obama.
If you support Democracy and really want to advance the values of representative government, economic opportunity, and human rights and you also support an Arab Spring, wouldn't that be counter productive?
Arab Springs rule under Sharia Law and under Sharia Law none of the fore-mentioned goals are even in their vocabulary. How does oppressing your people especially women help bring stability? I have really started to wonder does the Muslim world really want peace or stability?
Like we should put any weight in Bush's opinion. He was an absent goof in office who is largely responsible for almost unlimited suffering around the world.
@Sonny - You are truly STUPID!!!! Wow! REALLY? Moron!!!!!
If all muslims gathered in a forest to pray would America nuke that forest - Hell yes! Bring on the Republitards 2012! Whoopee we're all gonna die!
Twice as smart and classy as the current residents of the White House.
In which way? I missed Buch, but Obama killes Osama.
RE-ELECT W!!!!!!!!!!!!
I second that. RE-ELECT W. Peace comes in the thick of things, and not in its aftermath.