Bush On Iraq War: "I Don't Care If It Created More Enemies"

NBC News' Richard Engel, who in April was promoted to chief foreign correspondent, has written a book, released today, about the years he spent reporting in Iraq. The book is titled War Journal: My Five Years In Iraq, and it contains an explosive interview with President Bush. The president makes several controversial, some might say shocking, statements (from Muckraked):

"'This is the great war of our times. It is going to take forty years,'" [Bush told Engel]. "Bush said in forty years the world would know if the war on terrorism, and conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, had reduced extremism, helped moderates, and promoted democracy."

- Bush admits to Engel that going to war was a decision based on his personal instinct and not on any long-range strategy for the Mideast:

"I know people are saying we should have left things the way they were, but I changed after 9/11. I had to act. I don't care if it created more enemies. I had to act."

Read more from Bush's interview with Engel here.

Comments

[docofbb]

The worst President in the history of the Republic. I pray we'll never have to suffer through a similar era of stupidity and arrogance.

[filo]

There's only 7 month and 18 days until this idiot is out of office.

[bracken]

I think exposing the Democratic leaders who could impeach and won't would be more fruitful. I mean, how much more Bush evil needs to be exposed and spluttered over? Why aren't the blogs and news sites talking about Pelosi? I frankly think she's the target, not Bush. Why isn't there a big article on "off the table, the who, the what, the why?" Maybe we need to make THOSE people, Waxman, Pelosi, et al., sweat a little more,

Right now they're basking in their righteousness and lookng forward to easy election victories on their "principled" stand against, um, corruption and crime. And we are letting them slide. No good can come of that.

[TheEmptinessOfTruthiness]

Agreed. Turn up the heat.

[YankeeCanuck]

With all the best hindsight in the world, people who couldn't be bothered to vote in 2006 have been screaming for action from the Dems leaders.
They have a very slim majority-- one (sometimes) vote margin in the Senate. A stone wall of Republican Bush supporters-- none of whom will visit Bush one dark night (like they did Nixon) and tell him it's time. To shut down the government for 16 months was something the Dems decided not to do.
Accountability comes in many forms. We are seeing the beginning of criminal investigation.
To blame the opponents of a corrupt, even criminal, regime-- and one with a vast bag of dirty tricks-- is misguided.

[bracken]

I don't recall the world grinding to a halt when Clinton was impeached.

And as for the Golub/Pelosi primary, I hold that it's a mistake to believe that defeating Pelosi in the NEXT election is going to get Bush impeached. "Yeah, if we can just get [name] elected NEXT TIME, all our problems will be solved.

Yeah, I thought that about Claire McCaskill, too. And Obama. Yeah. We thought the 2006 elections would clean everything up right good, didn't we? Bring the troops home, impeach Bush. Seems so simple. Just wind up our elected representatives, let them go back to DC, problem solved. THIS time the problem will be solved. And if not, we'll just slog through yet another Congressional election, and THEN our problem will be solved.

I think it's ridiculous for Sheehan to run. Her campaign is freighted with all kinds of baggage, she's utterly inexperienced, and her name recognition is based on her stand at . . . what was the name of that camp she had in Crawford? She's a bloody-shirt candidate for those who think they're in a movie and see this as a strikingly dramatic, romantic campaign. Sally Field will star in the movie, extras supplied by CodePink--another garish publicity-seeking group of fashion statements. (Oh, get off my back, Pinkies--what exactly has pre-transsexual Midge Potts achieved except to tie peace activism to cross-dressing? Nothing like a five o'clock shadow and a Jackie hat for getting your point across.)

[DismayedRepub]

The reason these bastards haven't been impeached for TREASON is that the Dems won't have anything to run against next November. They are as selfserving as the administration.

[RTIII]

_I'm_ NOT letting them slide.

Yesterday there was a Democratic primary election in San Francisco, and I worked very hard to help Shirley Golub catch nearly 12% of the Democratic vote for Nancy's seat. Where were YOU. What did YOU do to help?

Now that Nancy has won the Democratic primary, our next chance will be Cindy Shehan (sp?) who can unseat her in November. Cindy is an independent, however, but it's certain she'll "caucus with the Democrats.­"

[Roman777]

" going to war was a decision based on his personal instinct..­." ? What the? Is he kidding?!!!

[vietveter]

He is way too shallow to be kidding... anyone but himself.

[JScott]

Don't blame me I never voted for him, everyone who did, shame on you!!!!!!
And BTW I suggest taking those W04 bumper stickers off your vehicle.

[arkgrfx61]

THANK YOU!!! Every time I see one of those stickers or a Bush/Cheney sticker, I want to say to them...are you REALLY proud of how those two have bungled this country?? Can you really say they have been a great administration??

[bracken]

They'll say, "YES, I'm proud, we freed Iraq, we've got al-Qaeda on the run, victory is just around the corner, you gay liberals should all be in prison!"

Been there, done that.

[sws3030]

Personally, I think the people who voted for him should be required to wear a big res S on their forehead for the next 10 years....s­tanding for stupid.

[realpolitic]

Bushs needs an ever present enemy, without which he could not dismantle our civil liberties. If he creates a few more that only helps him further his agenda at home.

[YankeeCanuck]

Exactly!

[Vyvjala]

His name is a household curse word, as it should be........­..........­.......

[robertlockwoodmills]

Bush's "I don't care if I made enemies" comment, within his own limited frame of reference, means "Presidents have to do what's right, even if people hate them for it." Examples: Lincoln suspended habeas corpus during the Civil War, Wilson entered World War I after boasting that he'd kept us out of it, Eisenhower sent troops to open schools for desegregation.

The problem with Bush's thinking is that he has never bothered to devote serious thought to anything before doing it. He's a one-trick pony, mentally. He listens to an ideologue like Cheney or Wolfowitz, says, "O.K., let's do it," and having expended no intellectual energy on the decision to begin with, sees no reason to agonize over it later...be­cause that would demonstrate how limited his intellect is. When he's challenged, he says, "I'm the decider" or "I don't care if I make enemies," as if that shows some hidden moral character, as with Lincoln or Wilson. In fact, it merely shows what an empty suit he is.

[drblack]

What can you expect from Bush? Bush said that the American Constitution is "Just a goddamn piece of paper" Republicans should be ashamed that they elected this man who doesn't support or recognize the Constitution.
Republicans hate our Freedoms.

[Wilburrr]

Well obviously GWB, you are not a patriot and you don't support the troops. As to the personal profits of you and your cronies? MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!!

[InjunTrouble]

Moron!

[bobo209]

My question he made this while drinking//DOING COKE??WAR CRIMINAL..­RETARDED

[Geauterre]

Oboy.

[demright]

Never forget the Neocon mantra I NEVER SAW A WAR WE COULDN'T MAKE MONEY ON.

[obamanation31]

Because of this war America is less safe.

[ImmanuelKant]

I cannot figure out why GWB is worthy of ink. We look to a new day and new policies that are so far removed from GWB the only reason to give him ink is to show why the necessity for what is to come.

The only critical element of GWB seems to be to say "No Senator McCain, I am not your "friend." You have spent too much time holding up GWB policies for me to ever be your friend. Senator McCain's constant phony smile and his constant prefix statement "look my friends" is tiresome.

[Trollstakeyourmeds]

I respectfully disagree. I think we need to continue to waste ink on this madman to remind us that he still wields considerable power over us and our futures. It is easy to forget about him and his insane eight years, but I believe that he is counting on that. He has, IMHO, every intention of cranking up trash with Iran before he leaves office, just to show people that he can. He is truly deranged and that should be obvious to anyone and everyone who has been watching him for any length of time. I never thought I would say this, because I thought our country had too many problems as it is, but I truly wish that impeachment proceedings would begin if only to tie him up in courts until we can get out of this mess.