Newsweek: Demolition of the Willing

[Contrary1]

By Christopher Dickey
Newsweek
Updated: 4:33 p.m. ET Feb 23, 2007

Feb. 23, 2007 - Four years ago a million people poured into the streets of Britain to march against the war they feared was coming in Iraq. I was in London, and I remember being struck by how decent, sincere and solid the protesters were. Many had come as families—mom and pop and the kids—just to stand up and be counted in favor of reason and diplomacy over sophistry, war and occupation.

Maybe you remember what President George W. Bush had to say about those folks. It tells you a lot about why the United States has so few friends left in the world; why its political allies have been weakened, deposed or defeated and why the public in Europe, especially, is unwilling to believe almost anything Washington says.

This is from the White House transcript of Bush’s remarks on Feb. 18, 2003, three days after huge protests in Britain, Spain and Italy—and one month before the bombing of Baghdad: “First of all, you know, size of protest, it's like deciding, well, I'm going to decide policy based upon a focus group,” Bush told reporters.

A focus group. Sure. Why not compare millions of people of good conscience gathered to exercise their civic duty to handfuls paid for their opinions about the marketing of new soft drinks or campaign slogans? Why would Bush or his acolyte, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, listen to a vast sampling of public concern when the two politicians knew in their hearts they’d already taken the right decision about launching the war.

More: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17302110/site/newsweek/

[MissWaverly]

1. what he really meant is that he won't listen to anybody

he said it would be a lot easier if this was a dictatorship as long as he was the dictator,
he never intended to serve the people, he follows his own personal agenda, ALWAYS

[jaysunb]

2. k&r

:thumbsup:

[Olney Blue]

3. The Decider doesn't listen to focus groups? What a shock...

:kick: K and R

[Parisle]

4. The Decider doesn't even decide

--- Bush is pure puppet

[niceypoo]

18. Bush is like Ronald McDonald

He doesn't make any hamburgers, he doesn't make any decisions, they just trot him out on occasion to make commercials and chase the hamburgler for show.

[SlowDownFast]

5. “First of all, you know, size of protest,

it's like deciding, well, I'm going to decide policy based upon a focus group,” Bush told reporters.

What kind of fucking grammar or sentence is that, anyway?

President Dumbass, indeed.

[SammyWinstonJack]

22. Embarrassing isn't it?

Second of all, george, you are a moron! :dunce:

[Norrin Radd]

6. It's too bad, though, that the author has to write

"...It tells you a lot about why the United States has so few friends left in the world..." as if the USA = the bush admin.

[Diane R]

7. Could we e-mail Mr. Dickey and tell him just that...the * does not speak for the American people?

[cdnwannabe]

8. Like it or not, BushCo is our face to the world....

especially when it comes to politics. And there still are 30% of americans supporting him/them. And, no matter how it happened, we did allow him to be elected/seclected twice.

[cui bono]

10. Um, so you think everyone still loves and trusts the USA?

All you have to do is read the foreign papers to know they've lost respect and trust of the USA, in fact we're considered one of the most dangerous rogue nations at this point.

I'm sure what you're trying to say is that the govt isn't the people, but as far as the USA, yes, we have eroded the good feelings toward us that we had after 9/11 - and before as well but it grew significantly after 9/11. And that is directed at the country, the USA, which is run by BushCo.

They know to separate the people from the govt, but even then in their eyes we either voted W into office twice or allowed him to steal the election twice - and even with the stealing look at how many people still voted for W. I wouldn't blame them for being greatly disappointed in the people of the USA as well as the govt.

[Norrin Radd]

11. Well, I'd never say anything as naïve as your subject,

and I'd never believe anything so naïve as anyone ever having loved or trusted the USA.

But, yes, I am saying the government isn't the people, that they know that, and that they know that the bush administration isn't the entirety of the government, and they are aware of our feelings and actions, as they participate in DU, as well, and that they will be greatly relieved when BushCo is gone and won't completely transfer that disappointment toward whomever takes over.

People and friends I've chatted with around the world are aware of the reality on the ground here, and admit that they also have the sort of people in their respective countries, as well, who vote or govern unwisely.

[cui bono]

12. Right, but I think when someone says "the USA" it's pretty clear that they're

speaking of the govt, not the people. So I wasn't sure by your comment whether you disagreed with the change of sentiment towards this country. Glad to see that's not what you meant.

[PDJane]

13. Lots of folks outside the US

Consider the US to be a nuclear armed rogue state.

[ForeignSpectator]

15. just ask me...

your statement is absolutely true, as sad as that is to say.

I was always fascinated by the US, I don't exactly know when or how that started. But being of Polish descent having a grandfather telling how he was liberated by Americans in WWII and experiencing life ( even if only as a kid ) on both sides of the Iron Curtain ( my parents emigrated to Germany, later we could visit the family left behind ) certainly played into that. Especially if the US stood for the West, the "Good"... Or if you hear from your elementary school teacher how evil Saddam is and "once the Americans go in there, they'll clean up the mess in no-time". The history of fighting for independence, the US Constitution under which all people are/were free, great places like NYC and a charismatic president Clinton did the rest for me to always feel positive about the US.

Even spending a high-school year in a Republican family could not change that for long. ( my host mother saying "oh, now HE would be a wonderful president", watching the back-then Texas governor on TV will always stick in my mind )

And when I say that even I, as biased as I am, was utterly disgusted by what is happening since 2003, you maybe can realize how the rest of the world feels about the US now. I have family throughout Europe and the following is an example of how people here feel : as soon as the conversation at the Christmas dinner table only touched the US, a Belgian cousin whom I never heard say an English word came up with "F**k America".

Of course B**h does not stand for all Americans, the administration is not the people and all that. And I try to tell the people I meet exactly that. But what is perceived is that B**h "won" two elections and all his "achievements" in the world, the war machinery that threatens peace in the world ( under the American flag ). In my wildest dreams I could not imagine the damage he did and is yet to do, now I just hope he does not kick off WWIII with the attack on Iran...

Still, I hope that America can cure itself from this low-life parasite and his puppeteers. And the '06 elections gave reason to do so. ( after all, I always wanted to move to CA or NY :eyes: )

So long, cheering for you at the sidelines to make the change

ForeignSpectator

[DWilliamsamh]

14. Unfortunately In the eyes of the world Bush IS the US

And for good reason: He's had absolute control of American actions in the world. Period. He has dug a tremendous hole for the nation to get out of on the foreign front as well as the domestic one.

We the people have STARTED to let the world (through our VOTE) that he is NOT the U.S., and like it or not it is going to take continued effort on OUR part to prove who we as a nation are.

[Canuckistanian]

17. Unfortunately for the world, the Bush administration IS the USA

Bush's political opponents have no power, no voice nor do the have much willingness to attain said qualities.

[truedelphi]

25. No longer true - Ollie North, who I imagine is still a CIA asset

Expresses his Hatred of the muck up in Iraq/ On Faux News no less...

Cheney just narrowly missed a "suicide bomber" -- or was that bomb blast in Afghanistan an inner expression from somewhere in the shadow government, by someone who agrees with the Five Star Generals that "Enough is Enough"

Any true Right winger hates incompetence

[Hardrada]

9. It wasn't just focus groups, remember that in the press it was

"appeasement focus groups." They were comparing all the peaceful people to Neville Chamberlain and Lord Londonderry.

[Stephanie]

16. Why doesn't it mention the million who protested in NYC?

I will never forget it. It was freezing cold, the streets were PACKED shoulder to shoulder for blocks and blocks.

[truedelphi]

24. And weren't you folks in NYC also breaking the law and

Possibly facing arrest due to not being given permits for many areas? Permits that had never before been denied to THE PEOPLE??

I was SO proud that my son took off time from sight seeing to be a revolutionary and join with the other folks jumping police barricades and protesting the neocon fascists.

And I hope some day I get to see New York.

[Doctor_J]

19. Wow. Newsweak is off the bandwagon.

hate radio and Cabal News are the only friends that Drunken Moron has left.

[neuvocat]

20. Just like Condoleeza Rice's "Data Point"

aka The Missing WMD's.

[Mr. Ected]

21. And I'll Never Forget Bush's Statement to American Protestors

Something to the effect that, "Isn't freedom and democracy wonderful? Look at all these millions of people, exercising their freedom of speech".

While never addressing their concerns. While never mentioning that there were as many opponents as proponents to his sophomoric war plan.

Freedom of speech only works when someone is LISTENING, Fascist George.

[TellTheTruth82]

23. Sounds like

World War 2....no one thought it was the right thing to do...

[truedelphi]

26. Who is in your subset of no one?? n/t