Bush Declares War Against Tyranny

For those who have wondered whether President Bush was stupid or crazy, his inaugural speech removed all doubt. President Bush is obviously quite mad.

While embroiled in two wars, Bush chose the time of his inauguration, arguably the most important speech of his second term, to roll out a brand new initiative never hinted in his campaign, a campaign against tyrannical regimes around the world. A War Against Tyranny. Here is a sample:

So it is the policy of the United States to seek and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture, with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world.
This is not primarily the task of arms, though we will defend ourselves and our friends by force of arms when necessary. Freedom, by its nature, must be chosen, and defended by citizens, and sustained by the rule of law and the protection of minorities. And when the soul of a nation finally speaks, the institutions that arise may reflect customs and traditions very different from our own. America will not impose our own style of government on the unwilling. Our goal instead is to help others find their own voice, attain their own freedom, and make their own way.
The great objective of ending tyranny is the concentrated work of generations. The difficulty of the task is no excuse for avoiding it. America's influence is not unlimited, but fortunately for the oppressed, America's influence is considerable, and we will use it confidently in freedom's cause.

Now, fighting tyranny is not all bad. In fact, tyranny itself IS bad. Unless it is practiced by a friend. You know, like our key allies in the all-but-forgotten War Against Terrorists: Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, and Egypt,

Here is what the current assessment by the US State Department says about Bush's close friends, the House of Saud:

Saudi Arabia is a monarchy without elected representative institutions or political parties.

That's only the first line. Sounds like tyranny to me. Read on:

The Government's human rights record remained poor; although there were some improvements in a few areas, serious problems remained. Citizens did not have the right or the legal means to change their government. Security forces continued to abuse detainees and prisoners, arbitrarily arrest and detain persons, and hold them in incommunicado detention. Security forces committed torture. In 2001 the Council of Ministers approved a new law regarding punitive measures that would forbid harming detainees and to allow those accused of crimes to hire a lawyer or legal agent. On May 1, the new Saudi Criminal Procedural Law went into effect. Prolonged detention without charge was a problem. Security forces committed such abuses, in contradiction to the law, but with the acquiescence of the Government. The Mutawwa'in continued to intimidate, abuse, and detain citizens and foreigners. Most trials were closed, and defendants usually appeared before judges without legal counsel. The Government infringed on citizens' privacy rights. The Government prohibited or restricted freedom of speech, the press, assembly, association, religion, and movement. However, during the year, the Government continued to tolerate a wider range of debate and criticism in the press concerning domestic issues. Discrimination and violence against women, discrimination against ethnic and religious minorities, and strict limitations on worker rights continued.

The Government continued to detain Christians, at times for holding services and at times apparently arbitrarily (see Section 2.c.).

The authorities may detain without charge persons who publicly criticize the Government, or may charge them with attempting to destabilize the Government

The sanctity of family life and the inviolability of the home are among the most fundamental of Islamic precepts. The Government infringed on these rights.

The Government severely limited freedom of speech and the press....

Shari'a does not address freedom of assembly, but the Government strictly limited freedom of assembly in practice.

Freedom of religion did not exist. Islam is the official religion, and all citizens must be Muslims.

Now, if this is from one of our closest 'allies' in the War Against Terrorism, how can they be our ally and also be our enemy. Once again, from Bush's inaugural speech:

All who live in tyranny and hopelessness can know: The United States will not ignore your oppression, or excuse your oppressors. When you stand for your liberty, we will stand with you.

As you see, the House of Saud cannot be both. If Bush is to impliment the War Against Tyranny, he obviously cannot support the House of Saud any longer. The report on Pakistan is quite similar:

The Government's human rights record remained poor; although there were some improvements in a few areas, serious problems remained.

Now, Pakistan creates an unusual conundrum that clearly puts the War Against Terrorists and the War Against Tyranny in opposition. Pakistan's government is assisting, however spottily, our War Against Terrorists. The reason they cannot assist us more is that the Pakistani population [ie: the ones Bush pledged to stand with in the War Against Tyranny] are strongly pro-al Qaeda. In fact, it is presumed that bin Laden escaped to Pakistan and remains to this day his most likely current residence. Pakistanis routinely try to kill their President Musharahaf. And Pakistan has the distinction of being the only Islamic nation to have been confirmed to have atomic weapons. In essence, the government Bush pledged to stand stand against is the only institution keeping al Qaeda from obtaining functioning nuclear warheads.

While Bush's speach sounded so nice and inspiring, presumably written to ensure it will go down in history, if Bush meant anything that he said, it should be the most terrifying inaugural speech of all time. Americans should be frightened by its expressed meaning. The United States cannot continue its War Against the enemies who attacked our nation 41 months ago, the leaders of which [bin Laden, Mullah Omar, et al.] remain free, and start this new War Against Tyranny. In fact, Americans remain highly suspicious and apathetic to this new Bush War. In fact, a survey taken last month shows that only 7% of Americans think our primary foreign policy goal should be imposing democracy on other nations.

And the speech appears to have played as badly overseas as can be imagined. In fact, even Bush's lapdog Tony Bliar [sic] had nothing good to say about it. In fact, he has taken the Fifth and refused to comment on it. Good thing.

Oh, and Condi Rice appears to have also telegraphed this shift in focus by the ADHD Bush Administration with her Senate confirmation hearings this week. In a portion of her testimony that received little coverage, she mentioned 'six outposts of tyranny:' Belarus, Burma, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Zimbabwe. Will the US invade Cuba? Zimbabwe? Burma??? [I thought they were Myanmar now]. Actually, since Iran and North Korea made the Axis of Evil and the new Outposts of Tyranny, maybe they will be next.

One thing was certain from listening to the Madness of King George yesterday: he has learned nothing from the WMDebacle in Iraq, and appears to be sending signals to Americans and the world that our two current wars are not the only wars that Bush has in store for us. If that is true, God help us!