THE LEGACY OF A PRESIDENT: PART TWO


Last week I began the theme of the legacy of a President with a look at the men who held the office over the past 40 years. This week I want to explore the legacy of our current President, George W. Bush.

Now, the legacy of this President is not yet completed and with two and half years to go until his term ends it can adjust in a positive or a negative way. But with that said, George W. Bush has already set his place in history because of 9/11, and the war in Afghanistan and Iraq.

But let's start from the beginning with two word's, "Hanging Chad". Who can forget the election of 2000 that would never end? If you are like me, you stayed up late on election night waiting for the announcement of who the next President was going to be.

As we watched the results the networks announced Florida went to George Bush, only to see that announcement changed to "Florida is still up for grabs." Then it started. Bush won, no, Gore won, no wrong again Bush has the victory, no not so, Gore is the new President. I kept waiting for a Dewey to beat Truman headline again...remember that headline?

The days that followed saw the Courts get involved with the decision going to the Supreme Court who issued the final verdict...George W. Bush is the new President. Although I was glad that he won, because I voted for him, I had a problem with the Supreme Court getting involved in a State election issue. No matter what, that election will always be debated as to the results, but it was over and Bush was sworn in and All Gore grew his beard and went on the speaker circuit.

The new administration began like most others with organizing its Cabinet, planning its policies, and promising a better life for all Americans. Then it all changed on a sunny day in September of 2001. September 11, 2001, will always be a day where everyone remembers where he or she was and what he or she was doing. It is our generations "Pearl Harbor" and we should never forget those who lost their lives that day.

Well, once the attacks took place, the legacy of George W. Bush would change, as would our entire country. Bush had to adjust from his planned agenda for the country, to a wartime President focused on destroying our enemy, and protecting our families. Not what anyone running for President wants, but when outside forces attack, our highest elected leader must meet the challenge.

That is what George W. did, he met the challenge. At first, he was shocked and even a little weakened. In a classroom full of children, he did look bewildered, but who did not live in a state of shock for a time? But, he arrived in New York, bullhorn in hand and declared we will take it to them for what they have done to us.

First, on a warm winter Sunday the radio's blasted the announcement, we are attacking the enemy in Afghanistan. Most Americans applauded that action and felt this war was justified, and most still feel that way. If it stopped here, Bush's legacy would have been locked in as positive.

But, he went further with the fight against another enemy. He challenged his father's old enemy, Saddam Hussein and Iraq. Now here is where George W. Bush will see his legacy make center page in the history books. I am afraid it will not be 9/11 and his heroic announcement. It will not be destroying the wicked Taliban in Afghanistan. It will be the war in Iraq. It will be the never-ending search for WMD. It will be Civil War, which is breaking out as I write this article.

Let me say that I like our President and voted for him twice. I believe that his intentions are righteous and just. I truly believe that we have been protected from more terror attacks because of his decisions and actions.

But, as a citizen, I believe that we need to begin to plan our exit strategy from Iraq. Our brave men and women who are fighting and dying need to know what final result is being attempted. In 1963, John F Kennedy was faced with the Viet Nam war. In an interview with Walter Cronkite just two month's before his death, Kennedy was exploring pulling troops out of South East Asia and made this statement " In the final analysis, it's their war to win".

In many way's that statement lives on today with Iraq. No matter what we do they will have to work out their government, on their terms. They will have to live past United States involvement. We need to start the plan to bring our men and women home.

Now, I said all that to close with Bush's legacy. He can go down in history as the man who kept America safe after 9/11. He can be the leader that made our foreign friends feel safe, and left our enemies in a state fear. But, unless policy changes in Iraq, he will be left with the legacy of Lyndon B. Johnson, who never could figure out how to end a war.

Greg Stokes