None Are So Blind As Those Who Will Not See

The price of a loaf of bread, or the value of human life.

A BUZZFLASH READER COMMENTARY
by Bill Burkett

At my time of service to GW Bush, I had been activated by the Texas Army National Guard as its State Plans Officer. Within that post, I gained first-hand experience in dealing with the logical, political and leadership processes of one George W. Bush and his staff, including Karl Rove, Dan Bartlett, Karen Hughes and others. In all candor, with this team, every event is a stated photo op and media event and the objective is closely planned to control each media cycle. However, I found throughout my tenure, absolutely no willingness to dedicate any reasonable effort to planning or decision-making for the good of those governed or of the electorate, other than close friends and associates.

Like John Kerry, and Chuck Hagle, I absolutely abhor the disconnect of leadership from responsibility; which is most clearly seen within a role in which a leader places his subordinates in harm's way. In fact, real soldiers, sailors and airmen, who took their oaths of office soberly, with seriousness of purpose and resolute to fulfilling that contract, all feel betrayed by such actions.

When George W. Bush again sidesteps his responsibility and shifts the blame for his arrogance and stupidity, he does not build the confidence of a mission or the confidence of a fighting force. He politicizes the very thought of the mission, which will automatically be the commitment of death to many soldiers, sailors and airmen. Such aloofness of the mind is criminal in nature; not just poor leadership.

At his news conference on October 28th, Bush implied a bizarre theory that more attacks against our troops " . . .shows signs we're making progress."

Of course, we all remember the "Mission Accomplished" banner while GW Bush imitated Tom Cruise in Top Gun. Once the Truth came out, we confirmed that not only had the justification for War been rigged; but so was the justification for celebration of victory.

In the Rose Garden yesterday, we can now add another emblazoned comment into our minds, when GW indicated that "we are making progress" in our slow fight. This he indicated as a result of the most deadly day since his June 1 affirmation of mission accomplished. It was his reasoning that this was a sign that we are making progress "because the enemy is more desperate in their attacks."

As a War Plans Chief during the first Persian Gulf War, I was struck with the logical disparity of this comment. In fact, this was far beyond a stretch or even a spin. It was just stupid; paralleling hails of glory and victory of the citizens of a nation looking at a "long slog," as Rumsfeld called it. And when progress is measured in the terms of a higher volume of death; we clearly see the disconnect of this man's mind and those that surround him from reality or more importantly, the value of life itself.

His Father may not have known the price of a loaf of bread, but Bush 43 doesn't know the value of a human life. I cautioned, over 5 years ago, that his demonstration of walking out on his military commitment would be reflected throughout his tenure as Governor and later President. Maybe this trait of individual arrogance and superiority was something that he learned at his Mother's knee, as demonstrated by her own comments of disconnection and superiority by saying such things as "her beautiful mind shouldn't be clouded with the darkness of death."

As a patriotic citizen and a Soldier, I am deeply moved that the commander-in-chief holds the lives of those under his command so valueless. Is that because he holds himself so special, or because he simply views himself outside and ABOVE the realm of the common man?

Sincerely,

Bill Burkett

A BUZZFLASH READER COMMENTARY Tweet