Letters to the Editor
-
The Imperial Presidency Redux
"Follow the money" is more than just a tired phrase; following the money will, eventually, end up at the front-door of some Bush administration hack or his investment portfolio. It should surprise no one that most/many of the contractors in Iraq have deep ties to the Bushies...financially and philosophically. Therefore, revenue from huge overseas contracts will eventually find its way back to the Administration in the way of campaign contributions at best and payoffs at worst.
Building an extravagant embassy in Baghdad that resembles the ornate palaces of Hussein signals to the locals that a dictator has been replaced simply by a capitalist cabal. Security should be a consideration, but, the sensibilities of Iraqis should be as well; exchanging one tyrant's palace for another's palatial embassy fools no one.
Remember Richard Nixon's "Student Prince" uniforms for the White House Palace Guard that drew derisive hoots when they were unveiled? Those derisive hoots you hear in Baghdad over our "imperial presence" is just as derisive...and, just as deserved.
The Emperor Bush is naked...and, that ain't a pretty sight.