'FORMER U

'FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT GEORGE

W. BUSH PUBLISHES HIS MEMOIRS'

PEOPLE READING BUSH'S MEMOIR:

'HE HE ... SNICKER ... HA HA HA'

[Al-Masry Al-Youm, Egypt]

[click here for jumbo version]

 

 

Al-Masry Al-Youm, Egypt

George W. Bush's Memoir is No Laughing Matter

 

"Even if he's a former president infamous for lying to his people and the world, the fact that he's a former president lends them special significance. … Many in the Islamic world may be reluctant to read Bush’s memoirs out of personal hatred for the man and his policies … I recommend, however, especially to government officials, that they read them carefully."

 

By Hasan Nafi'a

                           

 

Translated By James Jacobson

 

November 15, 2010

 

Egypt - Al-Masry Al-Youm - Original Article (Arabic)

President Bush is back - as are those who want him arrested for torture.

 

BBC NEWS VIDEO: Former President George W. Bush signs copies of his new book, Decision Points, Nov. 9, 00:00:44RealVideo

I haven't fully read the memoirs of former U.S. President George W. Bush, but I read most of what has been written about it in the major newspapers and Web sites. This might have been enough for people to familiarize themselves with some of the information that hasn't been revealed before, but it’s insufficient if one considers the book's importance to the follower of global politics. It is therefore a necessity to read the book in its entirety and with care. And not because it's fun, since reading a book that is by its nature antagonistic to culture and thought and defined by the shallowness of George W. Bush. No, it's not enjoyable, but it is important to read for other reasons, the most important being:

 

1. The person who wrote it: George W. Bush spent eight years in the most important place of decision making in the world and, at the end of his presidency, he was stigmatized as the most foolish president in American history. I am one of those whose eyebrows pricked up when the American political system elected a man of such shallowness and stupidity, and we can expect that his memoirs will shed some light on some of the darker aspects of the American political system.

 

2. The period that the book covers was exceptional, comprising such major events as: the attack by civilian aircraft on the World Trade Center towers in New York and the Pentagon in Washington; the war on Afghanistan; the war on Iraq; the global economic and financial crisis … etc.

 

In addition, because these memoirs focus on how America made decisions during all of these calamities, surely reading this book will helps us to better understand what happened, regardless of our personal assessments of the policies that the United States adopted with regard to these crises.

 

3. Timing: These memoirs were published just days after midterm congressional elections in which the right won a major victory. Because controversy over the crises that began in the reign of President Bush have yet to be decided, it's possible that his recollections will have an impact on the future and contribute to the reformation of the extreme right to which he belongs, and which now feels the pride of its electoral victory. So in one way or another, it helps to read the statements in Bush’s memoirs, not only to understand the past, but to understand what is to come as well.    

Posted by WORLDMEETS.US

 

Naturally, memoirs of such importance contain information that has never been published, some of which will be received with particular sensitivity in certain countries. As far as Egypt is concerned, Bush mentions that General Tommy Franks, the Chief of the Central Command who was in charge of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, said he was told [by Egypt President Mubarak] that “Iraq had biological weapons and was certain to use them on our troops,” and that Egypt, “refused to make the allegation in public for fear of inciting the Arab street.”

 

This information might or might not be accurate, but just the fact that a U.S. president mentions something, even if he's a former president infamous for lying to his people and the world, lends it special significance and transforms it into a historical document! What surprised me wasn't that information like this was part of Bush’s memoirs, but the complete absence of any reaction from Egyptian officials. That's not to say that they are in the least responsible for what Bush says, but that they are indifferent. Not to their people or the Arab people, but significantly, such silence only promotes the circulation of such information and lends it added credibility, since it comes from the very highest level of American decision making, none of which has been contradicted by other U.S. officials.

 

 

SEE ALSO ON THIS:  

El Espectador, Colombia: Bush's Book: Crimes Unpunished for 'Reasons of State'

The Observer, U.K.: Bush's Memoir 'Entirely in Keeping with the Man'

The Independent, U.K.: George W. Bush Had Best Avoid London

Daily Mail, U.K.: Why this Toadying to Bush the Bungler?

Der Spiegel, Germany: Schröder Spokesman Questions Bush's Intelligence

Publico, Spain: Torture Charges Filed Against Bush Legal Team

Die Tageszeitung, Germany: America and Torture: 'Just Following Orders'

Die Presse, Austria: How Much Torture Would You Like?…

Financial Times Deutschland: Hopes Dashed By 'George W. Obama'

Die Tageszeitung, Germany: 'An Arrest Warrant for George W. Please!'
Hurriyet, Turkey: Dick Cheney's Torture Logic is 'Deeply Offensive'

Jornal de Noticias, Portugal: Poverty and Torture: Bush Has Company in Europe

 

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Many in the Arab and Islamic worlds may be reluctant to read Bush’s memoirs out of personal hatred for the man and his policies, or because they question the validity, value and motives of what he says. One is well advised to deal cautiously with all personal accounts, because they are more often aimed at defending their authors and justifying their decisions than revealing the truth.

 

I recommend, however, especially to government officials, that they read these memoirs carefully. This will help them not only benefit from the lessons of the past, but anticipate the tragedies of the future.

 

CLICK HERE FOR ARABIC VERSION

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[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US November 20, 4:49pm]

 







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