Does Bush Know Who Is in Charge of Strategy?

[MajorDestruction]

I wish McCain didn't lose his damn mind during his presidential nomination. He might not have lost so bad.

[420Kasper420]

Y'know...I've spent a lot of hours LMAO at Bush and his "isms", but I must say out of all that material, this to me stands out as one of the exceptionally rare times where he managed to speak clearly and use up to 4-sylable words!!! Not to mention, there was no speech to go by, no teleprompter, he did this shit on his own.

Baby steps people. Properly pronounce 10-letter+ words today....learn to run the country tomorrow....or the next day....or whenever it is convenient.

[skype7891]

He was right. If we left, it would only aid the extremists' propaganda. They'd say, "Look, we won, American's won't fuck with us!".

That's why Obama never pulled out entirely. Ah duhhh....

[skype7891]

Liberal viewer seems a but up his own ass.. an egotist if you will...

[elkhati]

thats becase ur hitler u like to kill people

[davisfleetwood]

i got more flavor than fruits got gum

[dhinge]

I agree with the Republicans that Bush shouldn't have been allowed to speak as much as he did, but it sounds more like Bush is trying to say he doesn't want to take full responsibility if the strategy isn't working.

[auriciangelescu]

Did he at least knew who pulled his strings?

[BloodThirstyScott1]

Ha ha , OH wow, I love how that reporter is actually doing her job and really pushing to get a proper answer from Bush. Which won't ever happen and never has.

[theatheistguy]

Hey, hopefully you'll get to read this soon. I've been working my way back through your videos (which I love) and I realise that it has now been 3 years since these predictions. Could you do a follow up in response to this?

Thank you.

[solidussnake0079]

i'm sorry are you confused,you must be american to think bush is in charge of the strategy in iraq,obviously he just takes advice from his generals and minister before doing anything he is what we call a poster boy

[eikari]

a splendid video

[themanwithadog]

Bush is the master of gobblydook a language only understood by anyone who has had a lobotomy.What a plonker!

[420Kasper420]

@themanwithadog Not true!!!!

When I was 17 i ingested three blotter tabs and a solid handful of psilocybin mushrooms. The next day I found an essay of mine still open on my computer, carrying on and on about how much sense Bush makes in speeches.

[mickyster]

God help america with this President

[kaylalee2]

To be fair, (and I'm not a huge fan of Bush in the first place) the president relies on his commanders on the ground in Iraq for feedback on what is occuring, what needs to change and what needs to stay the same. I'm sure he's aware that he's in charge of strategy, HOWEVER he can't make sound judgements without seeing what it's really like in Iraq day in and day out.

[jonasm3]

My God...January 2009 hurry!!!!

[politicalpumpkin]

The military performs the STRATEGY put in place by the top commanders. The top commanders can change strategy, military commanders change TACTICS.

[BenjaminBattington]

The biggest problem with bush is that he so bastardises language in general that you can't even accuse him based on what he says. Honestly, I don't think his comment about commanders making decisions is an admission one way or the other. I think he's just barking whatever random string of syllabuls come to his head.

[yr1ntrly]

I have read your comment a few times over and I cannot help myself laughing each and every time. "[B]astardises language", "[R]andom string of syllabuls". So true! So funny!

[legendiver]

Jesus H.

[RawpowerGroudon]

Why is Bush whining in 1:52 and 1:54?

[lilUljanov]

That might explain why the US is in a quagmire in Iraq. :P

[forty8r]

Duh, U liberals think u so smart. STOP MAKING SENSE. Trust in GOD, the bible and above all BUSH for he is the true messenger appointed by divinity.

[fuchalo]

Ok... 911 Was an inside job...

building 7

building7

building7

[frozenflare23]

stop making sense? you should expand your argument before i assume you are talking ignorantly. =\

[forty8r]

Just paradoning the true right wingers who listern to Fox, Rush, etc as they defy military logic as well as our Constitution and International Law and replaced by some divine inspiration.

[m5tommy]

LOL!!

yea right .. messenger my ass..

Jesus was considered "Messenger of Peace"

Bush would be the "Messenger of WAR".. UNENDING WAR!!!

[Joshikosei]

do Americans vote liberal or republican just because it's the PARTY they like? do you not consider who's leading the party?

In Canada, the candidates are considered, then their policies are reviewed. It really doesn't matter if their liberal/conservative/reform.

oh, I mentioned Canada so bring on the flak. you deal with school shootings, terrorist attacks, etc. and it starts with ignorant hate. That happens here too, but it ain't nearly as bad. different values maybe, and a lot less hate.

[monkeytube138]

I can't vouch for ignorant american hate, but I CAN vouch for ignorant canadian smugness.

[xtrmly550]

"i'm really smart cuz i can insult you ignorantly and call you a cocksucker because you don't agree with me therefore you're wrong cuz i show blind allegiance to my nation's biggest idiot"

sounds really smart

anyway, yeah, i'm sad that my country is being hated so much because of this man. he stole the 2000 elections and has led us to another vietnam :(

[Domgenstein]

"Fuck you asshole! I happen to like Mr. Bush." Gee, looks like you really took the facts into consideration on that one. I don't like people who don't know what their jobs are; a Commander in Chief who doesn't know his responsibilities is -bad-.

[Domgenstein]

I like when people post comments like "you suck," because they only really let us know that one person is upset about the contents of this video and the ideas it presents. We don't know whether they're upset because the video is somehow wrong, or whether they're upset because the video shows them their own inadequacies.

[mslaerik]

you arent very smart are you

[mslaerik]

you know I know I dont know the guy

But I hate President Bush He is a disgrace to the USA

Please urge your senators to Impeach Dick Cheney and GW Bush We need to take our country back from these criminals

[TheNewYorkFloridian]

I knew that he would get the two words wrong. This is the same person that invented the word "strategeree"

[Rhodesia71]

it figures, with a name like NewYorkFloridian, you really just go where it's nice and sunny, run away from the problems and bring more here, GO HOME!!!

[PlanXfromMars]

it's all just a cover for the invasion. the earth is being changed to suit the preferences of beings who evolved on another planet. soon, we will all be enslaved to mass produce cheap tourist souvenirs and silk screen t-shirts for four-armed, three-headed gobs who leave smelly slime trails all over our sidewalks.

[Borbawhack]

George Bush is not a bad president, remember from like 8th grade history "Congress has half the vote."

Then think logically, what happens when we leave Iraq, the terrorists will think they won. W-O-N spell it out liberals! When they think they've won they'll probably attack us. AGAIN! Bush has to be one of the greater presidents. This country would be in total hell if Gore ran this place.

[trakkaton]

The US mercenaries are now hostages in Iraq.

The resistance will slay them.

They can't "cut and run", they will be cut WHEN they run.

They don't even have proper supply lines anymore. The green zone is close to falling. The most part of Iraq is out of their control.

GOOD BYE!

[Borbawhack]

Finally someone with a brain comments on this.

[prrolg]

Bush,the commander in chief is responsible for decisions,especially final decisions. In ww2 it is said that Hitler refused to listen to his generals recommendations in Russia when things were going bad and continued the strategy of attack and attrition.This may be a bad analogy of Pres Bush "listening to his Generals on the ground" or not.The video asks the question very well.Also,discussing stratedy with Martha Radditz at a press conference bothered the Pres.Not the time and place.

[ArturoN]

"great president"? i`m speechless, when u say "Homos" i suppose u refer to Homosapiens cuz only a Neanderthal such as u culd call "Great president" an other Neanderthal who stands only for free Doom America is geting nothing from Irak just a few companys get benefit fro that slaughter

you can find Neanderthal on the wikipedia just in case

[BWyldeWilliams]

You sauntered comfortably through that one didn't you.

[patkoelling]

unbelieveable that somebody can say such shit. i really would like to send you to iraq.

MAN, HOW CAN A PERSON BE SO STUPID you f*cking asshole???

the situation in iraq is much worse than before you fuckin americans came in there playing world police...

[Krosbryd]

WHAT?!?! Bush is a worm compared to Lincoln! Pot calling the kettle black means basically, "Look who's talking." Um, I never said that he's not trying to spread freedom. He is, but he's doing it all wrong. Many Iraqis don't WANT democracy. Besides, there are killings in Iraq EVERYDAY. His plan may work in the long run, but now, it's looking grim.

[Krosbryd]

Bush=/=great. He's not the WORST, but, he's DEFINATELY not the BEST. I'm liberal. I'm not an idiot. Besides, while calling someone an idiot, use correct grammar and spelling as to not be the "pot calling the kettle black."

[truthlovver]

one of the basic forms of delusion is focusing on military strategy and tactics (and the distinction between the two words is quite relative) rather than on the fact that the war itself was a tremendous mistake.

[pianistafj]

Yes, fellacious logic.  Pure sophistry.

[likeminas]

Very well done. Bravo!

[mikexxxxnolan]

The video is very good at showing the shortcomings of President Bush and the American questioners. More importantly the rest of the world know the 9/11 Commission Report is a cover-up as there was prior warning on the 5th September 2001. The Bush administration is far more lethal than anything gone before. As an outsider it is easier to see this.

[69sins]

lol..u didnt notice that he used those terms in the wrong way...the lady gave you a hint...you think to highly of yourself

[SakuraX7]

I'm not military savvy so I don't put much weight on the difference between strategy and tactics but the last to clips with the veterins were very englightening. Thank you for asking questions

[Sanref]

And there are many more like you, who can't tell the difference between one thing and another... And ended up voting for an ape. =D

[SakuraX7]

let's get one thing straight please. I would NEVER EVER vote for bush-EVER.

[manque15]

I just dont get it...why are you allowing this arogant piece of shit to lead you ...why arent you all storming Washington and have that despot thrown in jail...I just dont get it!

[dejahthoris]

You are right. But if you check the news, that happened yesterday. Well storming to Washington, anyway. And Bush may go down. Nixon did. He lied to us. We believed our leader, just as you believed your leaders when they allied with us and sent men to Iraq. Now we know better and are trying to change things!

[dejahthoris]

I know this is going to sound cynical, but I have my doubts that the overall objective of this administration is to bring peace and democracy to the Middle East (or anywhere else). I think this is a smoke screen they are putting before the American people to get them on board. The "strategy" of the West has been to divide and conquer ever since the Sykes-Picot agreement of 1916. Anyway.. This was your best youtube vid so far LV.

[LiberalViewer]

dejathoris,

This vid is one of my favs Ive made 2. By the way, the history class I mention taking in this vid was taught at a famous univ by a Prof Paul Kennedy. When I took it, the topic was "grand strategy" and, instead of teaching the course himself, Kennedy invited guest every week to talk about the grand strategy of a diff era. I did US grand strategy post WWII, so I was 1 of the lead questioners the week our guest was Sovietologist from Stanford whose name u may know

Thx 4 nice comment :-)

[dejahthoris]

Thanks to you for all the great videos. I am sure TheAmericanMaxim/SP will be back under a different guise. You are up there with him in my book. I like that you ask people questions and get them thinking. That's precisely the opposite of what the powers that be want, isn't it? They just want us to swallow whatever they put out hook link and sinker. I for one teach my children to ask questions!

[Downtroddin]

LOVE your site!

[newoh1]

The strategy is to fleece the American Taxpayer for the military industrial complex and the tactics is to have a war.

[DoctorFist]

While I agree with your commentary on Bush, i'm more worried about what General Barry McCaffrey (former commander in chief) said about how the money is needed to "deter the people's republic of china". Is he worried that without a technologically advanced military, china will wage war on the US? That's kind of scary, I can't believe they're actually expecting to make war with China, a country which I believe has nuclear capabilities!

[dejahthoris]

I believe his concern about the balance of power is justified, especially considering what a wild card Russia is right now. However, who would buy all China's crap at WalMart if we that were the case?

[DoctorFist]

Wait a second, how does Russia fit into this? Do they have any power or influence left, save the black market? Didn't their society collapse after the drastic switch to capitalism, or is the country actually ok now? Even so, i wouldn't say they're any more influencial than say...france. But i guess it would be in China's best interest to maintain such a lucrative trade partner. Excuse me if I forgot some crucial element..i'm not too into international politics these days

[DinhoDoCarinho]

China is able to erase the whole world, even without the use of any weapon. 1 out of 3 people on earth is Chinese. They simply "kung-fu" our asses of the planet.

[dejahthoris]

Of course your are right but they would not have much motivation because we are buying all their products and keeping them financially afloat so I'm not sure what the motivation for that would be.

[MOBONIX]

most informative

[mjtanner]

The tactics are to try to deplete the insurgents' supply of high explosives and sniper ammunition by employing both the methods "rolling impotent target of opportunity" and "sitting duck."  The strategy is to make the finally disposition of the war another president's problem.

[bintbaddi]

you are AWESOME

[awambach]

Brilliant commentary, Keep it up

[cinderellaferret]

And we've never "been stay the course." Nothing like a President with zero intellectual curiosity. He isn't stupid. He's lazy.

[BigDaddy1968]

Tactics, Strategy and Grand Strategy. Got it!

I think  a more important (and certainly more relevant) progressive hirearchy to LiberalViewer would be:

mildly retarded, retarded and encephalitic.

Love,

Big Daddy

[barb99999]

These aren't mutually exclusive.

[PauaFritter]

Hmmm ... when I heard it I thought different: is Bush mis-speaking or is he saying the Iraqi occupation is a tactic - in the strategic Global War on Terror?

[barb99999]

He confuses 'strategy' and 'strategic objective' most blatently (here, as often). But he also demonstrates that he doesn't know the difference btwn strategy and tactics, and has in sum, NO idea of what he wants to achieve.

[hockeyiz1]

Plus, the commanders are the ones on the ground doing the work. Of course if they thought things weren't working they would tell Bush to change his plan.

[rightwing52000]

DId you even listen to what mccain said. he specifically said they couldnt do that because they are on the ground

[DoctorFist]

yeah, pay attention to the end of the video more carefully. Mccain talks about how the commanders don't have a sense of the overall strategy, they are really more focused on tactics, which bush got wrong

[hockeyiz1]

Alright this video is completely devoid of reason. Tactics and Strategy are very similar words. And he did use the right terminology. He referred to Tactics when he was talking about on the ground stuff and used strategy for the overarching plan. And then when the lady asked if the overall plan was working, Bush said yes. I don't see how this can be taken any other way.

[barb99999]

You're mistaken: Bush is confused throughout, a natural result of his very poor intellect and bad education for his post (at which the incompetent fellow is failing now as he's failed at everything he did in the past (e.g., couldn't find oil in Texas)) . . .

LiberalViewer provided a GOOD primer on the nomenclature here; listen carefully: you'll get what's wrong with the bushblather.

[takezo3001]

Great vid, I'm subscribin'! Furthermore, My theory is that the poor bastard's off the wagon!

I've spent too much time with alcoholics, and His is a classic example.[cont]

[takezo3001]

[Cont]

I saw a documentary on his past, and were it not for that blasted bible-thumpin' group that he joined, he would've lost his family due to his drinking!

So it would be safe to assume that the pressure from his job, and the crisis during his tenure would lead him towards the bottle.

Though this is just a simple theory, it is plausible...I

haven't seen laura much lately have you?

[eligarf]

actually haven't some of the commanders suggested we change our strategy and pull out?

[BASEBALLAPPLEPIE]

fantastic

[lumnar]

Awesome. I hope you keep it up.

[Toxxic88]

Have you guys realized that everytime Bush is questioned about anything that he can't answer, he immediately has that stupid grin on his face and wants to avoid the question by attacking the person who asked the question with something totally irrelevant?

[Riuka]

Uhhhh... Well I can't say much other then... well... He doesn't know how to stratigize or use tactics... much less know them.

...Hey, how much longer do we have until he's out of office?

[dohno]

I really hate it when he looks around the room with his signature "how hard is it for you idiots to understand" expression on his face. Like, somehow he's been right about something, once.

[7774984]

he's speaking gibberish. well, i guess he always speaks gibberish...

[Jabulon88]

that this guys is not to be trusted. the world doesnt need more wars. its like when the biggest guy in school started taking the small(est) kids lunchmoney. and to think of the example.. i wonder if china of russia would like to rule the world too, after seeing how a true super-power does it. all the places i mentioned are victims of some sort of structural abuse. free tibet!

[Jabulon88]

what about darfur? what about tibet? what about indonesia?

[LiberalViewer]

Jabulon,

Or how about New Hampshire, or Arizona, or New Mexico, or Oklahoma, or Delaware, or South Carolina, or North Dakota, YEEEHAAAWWWW!!!!

Sorry, I was just channeling Howard Dean there for a moment ;-)

Seriously, though US grand strategy must have a policy for each place you mention, I'm not sure how any of them specifically relate to my video.

Care to explicate?

Thx 4 commenting :-)

[skinnychef]

hahaha! i love you LV!!! you are so silly sometimes!

[dejahthoris]

Our government does NOT CARE about human rights. It's all about power. If we did we would be concerned about the injustices in Tibet, Darfur, Timor, Taiwan or Timbuktu. We also don't care care about spreading Democracy. This is only part of the rhetoric politicians to gain public support for their policies.

[Hotpotatomash]

and that continues to this day. we would be bar better off if he always went opposite of his gut. now there are plenty of reasons why he is so bad. probably the biggest is that he goes with his gut where others are not even making gut decisions. either b/c of laziness or disinterest he relies on his gut all the time. that's why its important to have a president who likes to work and find answers.

[LiberalViewer]

Hotpotato,

It's particularly important cause the US President has the ability to be one of the best informed people in the world. It's hard for regular people like us to really judge what's going on in "real time" based on just news reports. When I got the history degree that included the strategy course I mentioned in my video, I studied declassified primary source material from WWII and found its only decades later the rest of us get to see much of what really happened.

Thx 4 comments :-)

[Hotpotatomash]

you're absolutely right but i and anyone who so chooses knows more about bush now than i have ever have any person i never met. there are so many books, so many quotes, so many insiders that you can triangulate a pretty good picture. and with history you still face many of the same problems...

[Hotpotatomash]

take reagan for example. he is now our greatest president ever according to some polls and many republican pundits. and while he did some things well, he was also a bit senile at the end who relied on his wife who relied on a palm reader or whatever. iran/contra, responsible for much of homeless problem, etc.

[skinnychef]

bush's gut = dick and don

it seems the man is heavily doped up too. reminds me of how reagan took a rapid decline and relied on his people, i mean gut, i mean medications, to get him thru. especially if you look at bush in debate when he was governor (he could actually speak and think!?!) compared to now. he's a doped puppet!

[LiberalViewer]

skinnychef,

When I was a public defender, I was always skeptical of cops who claimed they could tell people were on drugs just by looking, so I cannot completely back your conclusion. Still, I do see evidence supporting your theory.

As for being a "puppet," that would imply someone somewhere is actually more "in charge." Unfortunately, I believe Bush is as "in charge" as anyone in this Admin.

Thx 4 comment :-)

[skinnychef]

i disagree, LV, i don't see him as in charge in the least. he's the deer in dick and don's headlights...

[LiberalViewer]

skinnychef,

I do agree that Bush has GIVEN much authority to Cheney/Rumsfeld when it comes to Iraq/Terrorism/Foreign Policy. But, it's Bush's authority to give and he is the one responsible for trusting and listening to the wrong people. Your way makes Bush sound almost like a victim. Maybe you're right, but I think you're actually being too easy on Bush.

This is the kind of argument Americans should be having, tho ;-)

Thx 4 comment

[merrykite]

i don't see him as a victim at all, he is a willing participant, he enjoys the spotlight and notoriety ,but he's not the one in charge.

[Hotpotatomash]

but i doubt there has ever been anyone worse at than president bush. and we knew this back in 2000. he famously admits to trading sammy sosa but there was plenty of evidence that he was always wrong and relied on family and friends to get bailed out of bad situations...

[Hotpotatomash]

he basically admits as much. and let's face it, in life you have to ultimately make some gut decisions - that is when you don't know as much as you would want to before deciding. this is a learned trait that some people are good at and some are bad.

[Hotpotatomash]

bush didn't even know the difference between shia and sunni before he decided to invade iraq. thus this is hardly surprising. that said, this is another excellent video which is, once again, hardly surprising.

[LiberalViewer]

Hotpotatomash,

I've heard a lot of things about Bush's lack of depth of knowledge. There's much evidence these policies resulted more from faith than facts and came more from Bush's "gut instinct" than from good planning.

Thanks for the encouragement and the comment :-)

[DaCoach68]

Gee, doesn't STRATEGY mean...HOW you'll do something? You go, Martha! John mccain...if you hasn't kissed Bush, I might have been able to support ya! Another great vid, LV!

[LiberalViewer]

DaCoach,

I'd take McCain over Bush any day, but that's not saying much. ;-)And, I was also pleased with Martha Raddatz's persistent questioning at the press conference. I've watched Raddatz do some quality reporting on PBS's "Washington Week," too.

Thx for the comment :-)

[Urgelt]

I didn't know anyone in the US besides me had even heard of Luttwak! Good on you!

State Department used to be known as the "senior partner" in the administration for establishing national foreign strategy and policy, combining diplomatic, economic, and military planning. Bush cut State out of the strategy loop and replaced it with neocon ideology, as interpreted by Cheney-Rumsfeld. State is now merely a propaganda ministry. It's all very dysfunctional.

[LiberalViewer]

Urgelt,

I saw Luttwak lecture back when I took this course on "Grand Strategy" in 1987 when the book shown in my video came out. It's a great book.

I'm not sure why Bush strategy went so wrong. McCain and others obviously blame Rumsfeld. In my view, Bush is ultimately responsible whatever the mechanics of his failure.

Thx 4 the comment :-)

[KCKenya]

I have to second that notion from merrykite. Excellent video! Well organized, clear, and concise. Once again, you've clearly laid out the issue (as i try to do too, but I tend to just get conservatives yelling at me in response). I love your videos. Once again I ask, please keep it up!

[LiberalViewer]

KCKenya,

Thanks for the encouragement. I like the way you're trying to raise the level of discourse, too.

Thanks for the comment :-)

[merrykite]

another great vid, LV!!!

bush has never been in charge of anything that he didn't run into the ground....whether he knows it or not.

[LiberalViewer]

I figured you'd be with me on this one, merrykite, but when GW Bush is losing McCain and McCaffrey on Iraq, he's in deep trouble.

Unfortunately, that means WE'RE ALL in deep trouble :-(

Thanks for the comment :-)