Last Wednesday night, I, like many Americans, cozied up on the couch with a tub of popcorn to watch the second GOP debate, hosted by America’s most trusted news network, CNN. It was my night to have the TV, and I wasn’t about to let the two affable bros with whom I share a flat box me out with the second season of "Burn Notice." "This concerns the fate of our nation! Contrary to popular belief, Jeffrey Donovan does NOT take precedence tonight," I bellowed. "Now go put some goddamn shirts on and lower the Daughtry." And with that heroic stand, I was free to claim the living room and arrange my snacks while moderator Jake Tapper laid the ground rules for the debate.
The Emmy-worthy event included all candidates (save Rand Paul) regaling the crowd with war-hawk rhetoric and calls for the restoration and bolstering of the military-industrial complex; a complex the current administration has failed to strengthen, giving only about $615 billion of the Federal budget for defense and international security assistance in 2014. Dr. Ben Carson’s stage time (that always coincided with me getting up for ice cream) and the tough questions like, "Who would you put on the $10 bill?" made for riveting viewing and would only come second in stirring fascination to The Donald’s convictions about autism-inducing vaccinations.
Though for all the steadfast machismo (well done Mrs. Fiorina) and truth-telling in Wednesday night’s debate, there was ONE thing that I found myself in stiff disagreement with.
In response to a boisterous barrage from China’s best friend about how the presidency of George W. Bush was a "disaster," former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush defended his brother’s presidency by way of political platitude, declaring, "He kept us safe." A thunder of applause accompanied patriotic goose bumps, but facts were nowhere to be seen. I forget. When did George W. Bush "keep us safe"?
Was it during the time his administration (notably Condoleezza Rice) ignored urgent warnings from trusted resources two months prior to the Sept. 11 attacks about an increasingly disgruntled and capable Al-Qaeda? No, not that.
No, it was for sure the 2003 invasion and subsequent occupation of Iraq. That’s it. In subverting the reign of the despot Saddam Hussein and bringing freedom to the Iraqi people, 4,492 American lives would not "be safe" but instead be lost in the occupation (never mind Iraqi lives, we’re talking about U.S. here). Wait, that’s not right — let me take one more shot at this.
Here we are: demonstrating a profound ignorance of the history and demographics of Iraq before, during and after invasion is when we were kept safe! Bush’s friendly relationship with Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki kept al-Maliki in power without an understanding of what that meant for the beleaguered nation. The initial de-Baathification of Iraq by al-Maliki that followed the removal of Hussein would be met with the first instances of insurgency. Later, as the Obama administration began to withdraw troops entirely, al-Maliki would enact anti-Sunni policies that would increase sectarian tension and set the stage for civil war and, subsequently, the rise of ISIL in the north. ISIL, who the American public now fervently fear from the comfort of their living rooms. Yeah, I’m not going to be able to do this.
Looking back at the facts, it seems as though President Bush did not keep America safe at home or abroad. Rather, it was he and his administration that laid the foundations for the most influential and successful faction of radical Islam to rise. Not content to stop there, the Bush administration saw it fit to undermine the Bill of Rights, in turn inspiring a mistrust and fear of the government by way of policies like The Patriot Act (a bipartisan policy that shamefully continues till this day under the current administration).
In the words of Vine superstar Nicholas Fraser, I ask: Jeb, why the f*** you lying? (Why?) You’re making it hard for me!
Justin Ford is a Santa Fe journalism junior. His column appears on Tuesdays.
