Our President and his policies have fallen on hard times because he is now confronted with the unintended consequences of his past actions as well as inactions. He cannot undo the past and neither can he simply “stay the course” for any length of time because the country will not let him do so. When he thought that he could get away from his problems and have a quiet vacation at his Crawford ranch this hope was dashed by a determined Ms. Cindy Sheehan who had lost her son in Iraq. She parked herself practically on his doorstep and vowed not to leave until the President explained to her in person why her son had to die in this war. If Mr. Bush did not want to do this she would endure the Texas heat till August 31 when it’s time for the President to go back to Washington. She was soon joined by other war protesters as well as a group of pro-war activists and the idea of a leisurely August on the ranch was no longer feasible.

It was time for the President to go on the road and explain himself to the people at large rather than Ms. Sheehan in person. But he is very cautious in his choice of places to visit and the audiences he speaks to. So the White House picked Salt Lake for him to address the Veterans of Foreign Wars National Convention. What could possibly go wrong in the most Republican state of the Union that had re-elected him by 70 per cent? Well, there was this pesky mayor of Salt Lake, Rocky Anderson, who put his convictions before politics and sent an e-mail to a variety of people to encourage them to attend an already planned protest meeting at which he would also be present. Undaunted, the President literally stayed the course reciting the successes in Iraq; that it is better to fight 9/11 type terrorism over there than here at home; all is going well and we just need to be patient. The veterans cheered while the outsiders jeered. A repeat performance was staged in our neighboring Idaho where he likewise preached to the choir and where the dissenting voices were kept at a distance.

We were told that the President intends to continue giving speeches of this type for the next week or so but it is highly doubtful that the steadily rising number of people who disagree with his Iraq policy will decrease significantly if he persists in the same vein. This ought to send up warning flags in the White House that business as usual might no longer be practical. More of the same is not going to work and I have a feeling that the majority of Americans would love to hear him read a speech that addresses their concerns directly. The events of the past week, namely the proposed Constitution for Iraq and the devastation wreaked by Hurricane Katrina, would provide him with a perfect opportunity. Since he doesn’t personally write his speeches anyway I have taken the liberty to write one for him:

My Fellow Americans:

During the past week we witnessed two events, one in Iraq and the other here at home, which suggest that a reappraisal of our foreign and domestic policy is appropriate. It is my purpose tonight to acquaint you with my current thoughts and feelings.

 Last year I was asked by a reporter what the biggest mistake was that I had made after 9/11 and what lessons I had drawn from it. I was taken aback by the question because I had not been prepared for it and under the glare of the camera lights could not think immediately of a good answer. I, therefore, said, “I can’t think of one right now,” which was true at that moment. Since that time I have given a great deal of thought to this question because it is a vital one and deserves an honest answer.

As events over the past two years have shown I was misled into believing that by invading Iraq and toppling the Saddam Hussein regime we would bring stability to the Middle East and our chronic energy problem would thereby also be significantly reduced. I ignored the advice of those whom I should have trusted like Tony Blair of Great Britain and the leaders from Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia as well as Turkey, who had felt that an invasion of Iraq was neither in the best interests of the United States nor those of their own countries. Instead I relied on the views of a small group of people in the Pentagon and Iraqi exiles who assured me that Saddam Hussein presented an imminent danger to our country, that our troops would be greeted as liberators and a stable democratic government friendly to the United States could be established in the immediate aftermath of the invasion. We now know that this was a mistaken assumption. I allowed myself to be misled and in so doing I misled you, albeit in good faith.

A second mistake was that upon taking office I had not sufficiently appreciated the threat Osama bin Laden’s terrorist organization, al Qaeda, posed to our country, although the warning signs had been there. Whether or not timely intervention on my part could have prevented the full force of the 9/11 tragedy I do not know for certain. I do know, however, that regardless of how we got into the current difficult situation ruminating over the past will not make it go away. The lessons to be drawn from these mistakes need to be addressed instead.

As you well know I have up to now advocated a policy of “staying the course” in Iraq until that country has a stable democratic government that is beneficial to all its citizens, rather than only certain subgroups, and does not pose a threat to its neighbors. Recent events have proven, however, that this goal will not be achievable within the next few months and we do not know how many years will have to pass before the dream of a peaceful unified Iraq that is a beacon for democracy in the region can come to fruition. These are facts you and I must face and from which we have to draw the consequences.

We now have several alternatives for our future Iraq policy. Immediate and complete withdrawal of our brave troops who have fought and bled so honorably for us as well as for Iraqis is not a viable option. It would plunge that country into further greater chaos and vitiate all the good we have tried to accomplish.

To completely quell the insurrection that is currently going on would require methods that are also abhorrent to the American people. We would have to follow the examples set by well known dictators and fully saturate Iraq with our troops. They would have to not only seal all of the country’s borders, which is a tremendous task by itself, but also fully occupy all the major cities, establish martial law, and govern by military decrees. In order to do so we would have to re-institute the draft because our volunteer army and National Guard do not have the manpower to accomplish these goals.

But a rule through force and fear both here and abroad is alien to the spirit of the founders of our country and is, therefore, likewise no durable solution. We set out to win the hearts and minds of the people of Iraq and the broader Middle East. This was and is a noble goal but cannot be achieved with the methods outlined above. It has also become clear that our past efforts have not been sufficiently successful to justify hope that keeping on the same track will bring better results in the future. A more precise strategy needs to be adopted.

Changing hearts and minds will have to begin at home because only a united country can hope to emerge successfully and with honor from the present difficulties. I have promised you at the beginning of my Presidency that I shall conduct myself as a uniter rather than divider but have so far not been able to live up to this promise. Our country is increasingly splintering and changes in the administration’s policy have to be made. I shall outline now the immediate and most important ones:

1) I have accepted Mr. Donald Rumsfeld’s request to step down as Secretary of Defense. He has served the administration faithfully but has now become identified with the current Iraq problems and a fresh start is needed. I shall consult with the chief military leadership as well as the members of the responsible branches of Congress as to who his replacement should be.

The function of the Department of Defense will be reorganized to serve foremost the security of the homeland rather than to plan for future preventive wars abroad. This will include an orderly withdrawal of our troops from Iraq on a timetable that suits American needs and is not dictated by events in foreign countries over which we have no control. In order to accomplish this goal I have requested from the Defense Department and the Armed Services Committees in the House and Senate a detailed plan how this can be implemented during the next three years. I envision that we bring the members of the National Guard home first. They and their families have suffered great hardships and have earned the right to be the first ones to be greeted here and to resume their civilian occupations. The federal government will not only honor their service but also help financially wherever help is needed. Next in line for coming home will be those members of the military reserve who have already spent time in Iraq on previous tours of duty. They have also earned our gratitude and they should be allowed now to return to their families and jobs. Our professional military and first time reservists shall be withdrawn thereafter in an orderly manner.

This policy will not only bring relief to our brave military forces and their families, but will also signal to the Iraqi people that they have to take their fate into their own hands. We have helped them to prepare a Constitution for their country which, although not ideal from our point of view, is, nevertheless, a first step towards democracy. The Iraqi people are now free to accept, modify, or reject it. America neither can nor will dictate their future form of government to them. We do not desire further bloodshed in the region and will help, short of military intervention, in any and all ways. We are engaged in a battle of ideas and since ours are based on personal freedom and justice they will be emulated in time by others without the force of arms. This brings me to the second point.

2) A solution to the vexing problems of our world can no longer be achieved by military means but requires the patient exercise of international diplomacy. This is the primary function of the State Department. As you know I have entrusted the Foreign Policy of our country to Dr. Condoleeza Rice who has my full confidence. Her life is a vivid example of what America is really all about and that the ideas of personal freedom and justice for all are not merely slogans in our country. As an African American woman she has won the respect not only of our people but also that of foreign leaders who appreciate being dealt with in an amiable but decisive and straightforward manner. Her achievements were possible through the guidance and sacrifices of devoted parents as well as unstinted personal efforts. As such Dr. Rice stands for what is best in our country and she will be listened to. 

Since the Iraq situation is no longer solvable by military means I have asked Dr. Rice to convene a conference of the Foreign Ministers of Iraq’s neighbors and those of the five permanent members of the Security Council to develop, jointly with members of the Iraqi government, a political and economic plan that can bring peace and stability to this long suffering country. The purpose of the conference shall be to achieve a Resolution which can then be submitted for approval to the Security Council. Although Security Council Resolutions have been disregarded in the past we shall work for unanimity among the permanent members and subsequently enforce their decision. We do not expect to find instant solutions to a problem as protracted as this one but by showing the world that we are indeed serious in a truly cooperative rather than unilateral approach we take the wind out of the sails from those who intend to harm us.

            The other most troubling area in the Middle East is the long standing Palestinian-Israeli conflict which affects all the other countries of the region and beyond. I have, therefore, asked Dr. Rice to push ahead also with the implementation of the road map for peace which I have outlined two years ago. We congratulate Prime Minister Ariel Sharon for his courageous withdrawal of Israeli settlers and troops from Gaza and parts of the West Bank in the face of significant protests by a vocal minority in his country. But this needs to be followed up with helping the Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank to establish a viable economy which provides a living wage and allows parents to educate their children towards success in a profession of their choice rather than condemning them to a life of misery and the goal of martyrdom.

The past month has also shown how difficult it will be for Israel to divest itself from its conquests in the 1967 war which is demanded by UN Resolution 242 of November 1967. While about 8,500 settlers could be relocated, albeit with a great deal of heartbreak but without violence, this task will be infinitely more difficult for the more than 400,000 Israelis who live in annexed parts of Jerusalem and the West Bank.

The people of the State of Israel, just as the Iraqi people, are at a crossroad and they have to decide what type of country they want to live in. The UN charter forbids territorial acquisitions by war and if our world is to survive in this new century with its dangers from atomic and chemical warfare we shall now have to abide by it and enforce it. Let me also make clear that those extremists who believe in God given rights to force their will upon others, regardless whether they deduce these rights from an inappropriate interpretation of the Koran or the Bible, will find no support from my administration.

3) The war on terrorism will also be pursued differently. Instead of relying primarily on our military we shall continue to search out terrorist cells both here and abroad by full cooperation with the security forces of other governments around the world. The terrorist threat is universal and requires a universal collaborative coordinated effort. This will bring terrorists to justice without harming innocent civilians.

In order to prevent further terrorist attacks on the homeland we will secure our borders against illegal immigration and the transport of illicit materials. I shall first meet with the governors of our Southern Border States and together we shall plan a program that will stem the influx of migrants which has risen to intolerable proportions. Nevertheless, patrolling the borders will not be enough. As you are aware Congress is about to discuss legislation for a temporary guest worker program, which I have proposed earlier. But a genuine solution to the problem will also require the active assistance of the Mexican government. I shall meet with President Vicente Fox and discuss the best ways to achieve a mutually beneficial result. The illegal coyote traffic which exploits poor people who seek a better life and who are then left stranded in our deserts or forced to work under inhuman conditions will no longer be tolerated.

Our northern border has different problems and these will be dealt separately with the governors of that region. But we have a country that is bordered by two oceans as well as the Gulf of Mexico and complete security will not be achievable because it takes only one boat to land on any of our beaches to deliver a weapon of mass destruction. While I cannot promise you, therefore, absolute security I shall, however, do everything in my power to prevent such an event from occurring. In order to limit the destructive potential, if such a disaster were to occur, we shall make adequate preparations while at the same time ensuring that our constitutional rights are not violated.

4) This week we have witnessed the terrible destruction Hurricane Katrina has wreaked on the Gulf coast. Cities and townships have been devastated and beautiful New Orleans is under water. Tens of thousands of our citizens are without the necessities for life and lawlessness has made its appearance. We shall meet the current problems with the combined forces of the federal and state governments as well as your generous help to the victims of this unprecedented disaster. Reconstruction will begin immediately as circumstances permit but it will be a long process and your patience will be required.

Dreadful as this calamity is it may not be the last because even this year’s hurricane season is not yet over. We are all aware that our climate has gotten warmer. We can debate the causes, but the progressive melting of glaciers is there for everyone to see and warmer oceans can produce stronger winds. As you are aware my administration has rejected the Kyoto Climate Accord and there were good reasons for doing so. But the time has come to reappraise our policy towards the natural environment we live in. All of us are passengers on spaceship earth and it behooves us to take care of our planet the best we know how. This will require a global effort and America will be a full time partner in it. What is preventable we shall prevent and what is not we shall deal with when it comes.

Apart from the steps outlined above there is one additional aspect you need to know. I am aware that I have been criticized for taking too many vacations and being away from Washington too often. While I do regard a healthy life style as important, none of you can take five weeks of vacation and neither should your President, especially in times of war. I shall, therefore, devote myself henceforth full time to your concerns. This means also that I shall not engage in fund raising efforts around the country for my party but I shall remain at my desk in the Oval Office to serve the needs of all the people of our nation in this crucial and difficult time. As you well know the needs are many and I have mentioned only some of the most urgent ones. The doors to the Oval Office shall remain open to all members of Congress, regardless of political affiliation so that we can jointly arrive at durable solutions for the numerous problems that beset us.

I cannot guarantee you success of the plans as outlined above but only my best effort. While I genuinely regret past mistakes, I would now like to ask for your forgiveness of these human weaknesses and your help and prayers for the future.

Thank you for your attention.

A speech of this type would solve the President’s current dilemma and instantly boost his popularity rating. But will he do so? I doubt it because from what we have seen so far it does not appear to conform to his character. Nevertheless, he should be told how average Americans feel and I shall send this article to the White House as well as some members of Congress and our major news media. Patriotism should not be equated with flag waving and “Fuehrer befiehl wir folgen.” Blind obedience to a leader is not what America is all about. If we want to preserve our democracy the people need to speak up when their vital interests are at stake and when they do so the leadership needs to listen to their concerns and address them in a responsible manner. Calling war protesters “nutcakes,” as our senior Senator Orrin Hatch did during the President’s visit to Salt Lake, will not do. A remark of this type only shows his current mindset and how much he has yet to learn even about his own constituents. But that would require reading and answering his mail which he is not in the habit of doing as mentioned in the previous essay on The Plame Affair.