A Peaceful Response to the State of the Union
Seth Long & Barbra Bearden
January 31, 2008
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Bush's last State of the Union speech was predictably more of the same; empty rhetoric attempting to put a positive spin on an unpopular and dilapidated presidency.  That presidency has sunk our nation's resources into an ill-conceived invasion of Iraq while demonstrating an almost total disregard for America's economic, social, environmental and diplomatic needs.

The first section of the President’s speech focused on domestic issues.  He promoted continued erosion of civil liberties through the Patriot Act.  Our fourth amendment right to privacy has been challenged in the name of homeland security and the President wants us to continue the same programs that threaten this right. Internet and library searches are open to scrutiny, threatening the first amendment. Phone conversations are monitored without a warrant and the President wants to continue this unconstitutional surveillance and asked for legislation authorizing this to be renewed by February 1st. He also asked that immunity be granted to those telecommunications companies who cooperated with the program, which means that companies like Verizon and A T & T will not be held accountable for their actions.

The Presidents speech addressed the fast approaching recession our country is facing. Raising health and gas prices have pinched the wallets of the American public while the collapsed housing market prevents middle class families from borrowing on their value.  Despite the dire circumstance facing the average American, Bush continues to insist we spend more on the occupation, new nuclear weapons, and tax cuts for American billionaires.

Bush continued to sow more of the same useless strategies; a militarized economy and domestic policies that favor the elite 1% of wealthy in our nation.  These failed policies come at the expense of an educated & competitive workforce, healthy citizens and a balanced economy.  This course of action has made our country weaker and more vulnerable than it was less than 8 years ago. 

Despite all the evidence to the contrary Bush trumpeted the successes of his foreign policies.  During the most violent year Afghanistan has seen since September 11th Bush held the occupation of that country up as a shining example of American ‘democracy building’.  As our allies withdraw and the international community continues to condemn our failed policies the Afghan people suffer under our military occupation.

His false confidence extends to Iraq.  He correlated the decreasing violence in Iraq with the surge of troops he authorized last summer all but ignoring the lack of sustainability in his military policy.  Polices of ethnically cleansing neighborhoods and paying off local leaders will only quell violence in the short term. Longer term peace requires a diplomatic – not military – surge and the Iraqi people know it.  In a 2005 ABC/BBC poll, 59% of Iraqis felt that U.S. and coalition forces were increasing violence. Towards the end of 2007 the follow up survey revealed that sentiment spread to 80% of the Iraqi population.

In light of recent polls where over 70% of the American people believe it is beyond time to bring our troops home Bush pandered to the people by offering to redeploy a portion of his surge.  The majority of troops are still subject to deployments in Iraq lasting longer than their time at home with their families, many times over 14 months in a war zone. 

Bush claimed to increase the funding for Veterans by over 200% - but 200% of zero is still zero.  Returning soldiers with brain damage and lost limbs struggle to get the medical care they need to survive and the social support to help them reenter civilian society. 

From his speech it was obvious Bush is dedicated to fulfilling his mission in Iraq at the expense of America.  He alluded to his intention to lock in the presence of the US through a "contract for colonization".  Working with Maliki, a statesmen hand picked by the Bush administration, he will try to cement permanent military bases in Iraq and secure legal provisions giving US companies' unusually lucrative command of Iraqi oil resources. Those provisions are widely opposed by American's Iraqi's and the US Congress.

What Bush forgot to say about Iraq and national security sheds even more light on his legacy. He failed to mention that this year, despite a failing economy & a trillion dollar occupation; he is again pursuing the development of a new nuclear weapons program that would cost the American tax-payer $150 billion.  Bush has tried several times to pass legislation to build nuclear facilities with the capacity for 125 new nuclear warheads every year for the next 25 years.

As Bush ratchets up U.S. nuclear weapons and deploys our army across the world he condemns Iran claiming they have delusions of global dominance and nuclear hegemony.   All the while ignoring the report issued by the intelligence community suggesting otherwise.

With less than a year in office Bush continues to beat the war drum.  He continues to delude himself into believing the state of the union is strong.  In his closing he said, “Americans are a resolute people who have risen to every test of our time. Adversity has revealed the character of our country, to the world and to ourselves. America is a strong nation, and honorable in the use of our strength. We exercise power without conquest, and we sacrifice for the liberty of strangers.” 

He is right; Americans are resolute & honorable people willing to sacrifice for the greater good.  As President he has taken advantage of our national good will.  The public reaction to his speech indicates the American people have enough.  Our focus is on the future.  On the 2008 election and the potential of change this election brings.  We will, again, regain the strength of civil society.  We will, again, take back our civil liberties.  We will, again, rise as a great international leader collaborating with other nations for a greater, more prosperous future.