I don't think Powell was presenting to the United Nations, but rather to the American people. When he showed up next to Bush the following day, this again was aimed to the American people. Now today we get an elevation to a higher terrorist alert status, this again aimed toward the American people.
Frankly, I think we're seeing is manipulative politics at its best. Bush knows he can't pull the war trigger with only his GOPwinger base supporting him, that he has to somehow reach toward the middle and do this in a manner which effectively handcuffs enough elected Democrats (due to the nature of their respective voting districts) into supporting him as well.
Remember, the above is an appeal push aimed only at those who consistently vote in US elections. To Bush and his operatives these are the only folks who really count.
Once the above has been established--and what greater tool to do this than the use of fear tactics--Bush can then move his game plan forward. It really doesn't matter what the rest of the world thinks, nor does he care. You see, Bush knows the combined wealth of Britain and the United States is sufficient to buy any smaller economic nation on board for the war effort.
Part toward this I think is also a belief that Bush thinks he can go down in history as one of America's greatest presidents, a task easier for future historians to consider given who his dad is. Of course, it could go all wrong and this might not happen. But what's the downside. A president is a president and a president whose dad was a president is indeed a president of distinction. So he sees his downside risk as minimal.
Unfortunately, as seen by most people in America and as seen by most people in the world, his calculated risk is a gamble few leaders in the world would themselves take, unless forced to do so.
Bush's war coalition is a 'bought' coalition and one where nations aren't exactly rising up toward a great cause of principle. Rather, there's a need to curry for economic favor. Call it pandering.
So I'm seeing the actions of the past three days--Powell to the UN/Bush and Powell/elevated terrorist status--as part and parcel to Bush pulling a sufficient base of the electorate together such that he thinks he can justify his war. A war which history will ultimately describe as a war for resources, not for justice. |
