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Bush is guilty of the most grievous error that a democratically elected leader can make: surrounding himself with people that will only tell him what he wants to hear, rather than what he NEEDS to hear. A President needs to know from his advisers when he is breaking the law. He needs to know when he is violating international treaties. He needs to know when his actions insult and alienate our allies.
You should understand that the President needs to have the ability to do any and all of these things. He needs to power and the leeway to insure our national security. "National security" must be a reason used in rare and special circumstances - illegal actions always must be. Because of this, the President needs to understand that if he chooses to order these things to be done, then he is breaking the law. He should be smart enough and wise enough to know when it is required of him. He should be brave enough - he should be enough of a leader - to accept the consequences of his actions.
The decision for the US military & intelligence to use torture at Guantanamo, Afghanistan & Iraq was made PNAC neocons in the administration long before the Gonzalez memo supporting it was written. They're looking to form death squads in Iraq to combat the "insurgency" - just as they did illegally in El Salvador 20 yrs ago. They see nothing wrong with using propaganda against the American people to forward their political agenda. They insist on having the power to imprison American citizens without trial and without consul. They lie casually and without purpose. And the right wing has long criticized the prohibition of the use of assassination as a political tool.
These changes in Americas policies are not required for "national security". Their only purpose is to consolidate the power of the corporate/neocon elite. They will use this power to gain control of the Federal budget, and use OUR money to further gain control of world oil supplies via Iraq. (Google term "Peak Oil" for info on this.)
There is a reason the United States had forgone a policy advocating the use of assassination, and torture, and funding terrorists - at least until Bush got in. It has nothing to do with the law or morality or even simple expedience. The reason is that if we use these tactics against our enemies then THEY CAN USE THEM AGAINST US!
If we use torture against or prisoners - then the beheadings of our soldiers, foreign civilians, and Iraqi collaborators becomes a valid form of resistance. If we condone or order the assassination of a political leader who opposes US policy - then The President becomes a target; not only George Bush, but every President the comes after him. If we organize, fund and train terrorists, then use those them against our enemies - then 9/11 becomes justified.
America was supposed to be different - the shinning light of freedom that light the world, offering the hope real liberty to people around the world. American influence and prestige allowed civilized nations the authority to force those less Bush has changed that; under his regime the US has become like every other despised, corrupt totalitarian country. There's really no difference between Saddam and Bush.
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