Comments on: How Will History Judge Bush? http://blog.kirkpetersen.net/2008/11/how-will-history-judge-bush.html ... for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing Wed, 01 Feb 2012 02:43:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Ajami Offers Wisdom on Islam and the Middle East | All That Is Necessary... http://blog.kirkpetersen.net/2008/11/how-will-history-judge-bush.html/comment-page-1#comment-2319 Ajami Offers Wisdom on Islam and the Middle East | All That Is Necessary... Sat, 15 May 2010 14:45:27 +0000 http://blog.kirkpetersen.net/2008/11/how-will-history-judge-bush.html#comment-2319 [...] My old professor Fouad Ajami, who flourished at Johns Hopkins after starting his academic career at Princeton, discusses Islam and the Middle East on Peter Robinson’s well-crafted Uncommon Knowledge video series.  There is no transcript, but I’ve painstakingly transcribed a few passages, and in some cases I’ve added links to my own posts along similar lines.  (I didn’t take notes this well in the good professor’s course, but I might have if his lectures had a pause button.) We can be proud of what we have done in Iraq.  America has midwifed a binational state — that means Arab and Kurd — and we have midwifed a democratic entity in the heart of the Middle East…. I think history will be immensely kind to what he [President Bush] did in Iraq. [Hear, hear.] [...] [...] My old professor Fouad Ajami, who flourished at Johns Hopkins after starting his academic career at Princeton, discusses Islam and the Middle East on Peter Robinson’s well-crafted Uncommon Knowledge video series.  There is no transcript, but I’ve painstakingly transcribed a few passages, and in some cases I’ve added links to my own posts along similar lines.  (I didn’t take notes this well in the good professor’s course, but I might have if his lectures had a pause button.) We can be proud of what we have done in Iraq.  America has midwifed a binational state — that means Arab and Kurd — and we have midwifed a democratic entity in the heart of the Middle East…. I think history will be immensely kind to what he [President Bush] did in Iraq. [Hear, hear.] [...]

]]> By: Elrond Hubbard http://blog.kirkpetersen.net/2008/11/how-will-history-judge-bush.html/comment-page-1#comment-272 Elrond Hubbard Mon, 19 Jan 2009 04:56:00 +0000 http://blog.kirkpetersen.net/2008/11/how-will-history-judge-bush.html#comment-272 That's a big "if" for Iraq to become a beacon of hope, or whatever. I wish that country well. Just remember, before our invasion, George Packer wrote that it is the most fractured country in the Middle East. I say, right now, the future of Iraq is as uncertain as ever. We have to see what happens after our troops leave. That’s a big “if” for Iraq to become a beacon of hope, or whatever. I wish that country well. Just remember, before our invasion, George Packer wrote that it is the most fractured country in the Middle East. I say, right now, the future of Iraq is as uncertain as ever. We have to see what happens after our troops leave.

]]> By: Kirk Petersen http://blog.kirkpetersen.net/2008/11/how-will-history-judge-bush.html/comment-page-1#comment-133 Kirk Petersen Mon, 01 Dec 2008 18:17:00 +0000 http://blog.kirkpetersen.net/2008/11/how-will-history-judge-bush.html#comment-133 Exactly right, Lori. The Berlin Wall didn't fall until after Reagan left office. When he left office, things seemed to be on a positive track with the Soviet Union based on a minor arms agreement, but the Wall still stood, and Reagan was under the cloud of Iran-contra. <br/><br/>I voted against him twice, but 20 years after he left office I consider him the greatest president of my lifetime (which goes back to Eisenhower). Exactly right, Lori. The Berlin Wall didn’t fall until after Reagan left office. When he left office, things seemed to be on a positive track with the Soviet Union based on a minor arms agreement, but the Wall still stood, and Reagan was under the cloud of Iran-contra.

I voted against him twice, but 20 years after he left office I consider him the greatest president of my lifetime (which goes back to Eisenhower).

]]> By: Lori http://blog.kirkpetersen.net/2008/11/how-will-history-judge-bush.html/comment-page-1#comment-132 Lori Mon, 01 Dec 2008 16:03:00 +0000 http://blog.kirkpetersen.net/2008/11/how-will-history-judge-bush.html#comment-132 The only thing that can be said for certain is that George W. has been the most unpopular president in history (to date). I read American Gospel by Jon Meacham and something he said resonated with me. He would not go further than Ronal Reagan in his research because, as he put it, the Beschloss Rule should apply - Michael Beschloss believes that "only after twenty or thirty years does one begin to have enough information to evaluate a president." I think that's a very good rule to apply. Emotions, good and bad, cloud our judgment when we're closely embroiled in a current president's record. The only thing that can be said for certain is that George W. has been the most unpopular president in history (to date). I read American Gospel by Jon Meacham and something he said resonated with me. He would not go further than Ronal Reagan in his research because, as he put it, the Beschloss Rule should apply – Michael Beschloss believes that “only after twenty or thirty years does one begin to have enough information to evaluate a president.” I think that’s a very good rule to apply. Emotions, good and bad, cloud our judgment when we’re closely embroiled in a current president’s record.

]]> By: Kirk Petersen http://blog.kirkpetersen.net/2008/11/how-will-history-judge-bush.html/comment-page-1#comment-131 Kirk Petersen Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:18:00 +0000 http://blog.kirkpetersen.net/2008/11/how-will-history-judge-bush.html#comment-131 Ah, but Iraq is the key. For better or worse, Iraq will be the dominant theme of his legacy. If, forty years from now, Iraq is a stable U.S. ally and a force for moderation in the neighborhood, the fact that the early years of the occupation were mismanaged will be a dim memory. The war will be judged on what it accomplished and on the <a HREF="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_casualties_of_war#Wars_ranked_by_total_deaths" REL="nofollow">extraordinarily low level of U.S. casualties</a>.<br/><br/>I'm not trying to put Bush on Mount Rushmore. I'm just saying it's far too early to proclaim that he's the worst in history -- he's not even "in history" yet.<br/><br/>Thanks for the comment. Ah, but Iraq is the key. For better or worse, Iraq will be the dominant theme of his legacy. If, forty years from now, Iraq is a stable U.S. ally and a force for moderation in the neighborhood, the fact that the early years of the occupation were mismanaged will be a dim memory. The war will be judged on what it accomplished and on the extraordinarily low level of U.S. casualties.

I’m not trying to put Bush on Mount Rushmore. I’m just saying it’s far too early to proclaim that he’s the worst in history — he’s not even “in history” yet.

Thanks for the comment.

]]> By: David http://blog.kirkpetersen.net/2008/11/how-will-history-judge-bush.html/comment-page-1#comment-130 David Mon, 01 Dec 2008 10:45:00 +0000 http://blog.kirkpetersen.net/2008/11/how-will-history-judge-bush.html#comment-130 You're just focusing on Iraq, Kirk. You have to also remember his failures on the domestic agenda too. Katrina, the Attorney General scandals, etc. Worst President ever? Maybe not, but certainly in the bottom three.<br/><br/>-David W-H. You’re just focusing on Iraq, Kirk. You have to also remember his failures on the domestic agenda too. Katrina, the Attorney General scandals, etc. Worst President ever? Maybe not, but certainly in the bottom three.

-David W-H.

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