(May 28, 2009 - Photo by Bill Pugliano/Getty Images North America)
Beginning with the attacks of September 11, 2001, his presidency was destined to be tumultuous and unprecedented with a new enemy actualized in the form of global terrorism. This tragedy was followed by an Anthrax scare in which letters lined with anthrax were being distributed causing panic to everyone that opened their mail. Then there was the invasion of Afghanistan and the search for Osama bin Laden. He then faced the collapse of the airline industry and the stock market falling to 7528.40 in the aftermath of 911. This was followed by the invasion of Iraq and the removal of Saddam Hussein from power. On the heals of the invasion, a blackout left 40 million Americans in 8 states without power and many fearing that problem was the handiwork of terrorists. And perhaps even the most daunting of all his challenges was the unprecedented problem of how to handle “enemy combatants” or “terrorists” or “POW’S” – depending on your political affiliation. Internationally, there were also terror attacks in Madrid (killing 190) and London (killing 56). And lastly, there was an oil crisis seeing gas prices rise to record levels only to be followed by the collapse of the mortgage / lending market.
While his critics will pontificate and history will judge how many of the aforementioned issues the presidency of George W. Bush had a hand in, the list is still no less formidable. In time it may be determined that he was the wrong man for the job of facing such a terrible list of events in American history; however, it would be an undesirable task to find anyone who would have been adequately qualified for such a job.
So in the wake of so many unfortunate events, what did President Bush measure to be his successes? Even amidst great criticism and controversy, it is obvious that President Bush firmly believed that his efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan would have a lasting effect on national security and peace in that region of the world. In his farewell speech to the nation he demonstrated that he took great pride in the notion that his presidency helped to bring freedom to 50 million Afghans and Iraqis. Bringing freedom and individual liberty to people everywhere was among the most desired objectives of his presidency and he was committed to that end for the majority of his time in office. He spoke of this desire in his second inaugural address stating,
“When the Declaration of Independence was first read in public and the Liberty Bell was sounded in celebration, a witness said, “It rang as if it meant something.” In our time it means something still. America, in this young century, proclaims liberty throughout all the world, and to all the inhabitants thereof. Renewed in our strength – tested, but not weary – we are ready for the greatest achievements in the history of freedom.”
Among his successes, President Bush appeared to take great comfort in the fact that his administration had successfully prevented further terrorist attacks in the years following the tragedy of September 11, 2001. The nation’s domestic security was at the top of his list of spoken priorities and to that end he was successful by all measurable accounts. While success can be measured in terms of a lack of attacks on American soil, it was clear that the events of 911 were never far from the President’s mind. Upon departing office he stated,
“This evening my thoughts return to the first night I addressed you from this house – September 11, 2001. That morning, terrorists took nearly 3,000 lives in the worst attack on America since Pearl Harbor…As the years past, most Americans were able to return to life much as it has been before 911. But I never did…and I vowed to do everything in my power to keep us safe.”
It appears, and rightfully so, that this promise will be the one hallmark of the Bush presidency in the years to come. We have not had a terrorist attack on American soil since the attack on 911. Even if for this fact alone, his presidency can never be measured as a complete or total failure. In fact, history may tell a very different story. It may show that these 7 years free from domestic terrorism were the clearest sign that his presidency should be spoken of with a much higher degree of reverence. A presidency that was labeled in shameful terms while in operation may be cast in a much more favorable light by future generations.
It is easy to forget the accomplishments or great deeds of men when we disagree with their chosen courses of action. It is easy to lose sight of the bigger picture as we move through difficult times. It is easy to distort the truth and rewrite the history to shape public opinion that suits our desired result. The Presidency of George W. Bush was marked and was stained by these easy distortions of the truth and these revisions of history. I will never be mistaken for a Bush apologist, but just days after the anniversary of one the most tragic events in American or any history, I will not take the easy path and forget that he helped to keep this nation safe. I will not forget the reassurance that he gave me and many other Americans that those who committed such heinous and cowardly acts would be brought to justice. I will not forget that much of the Al Qaeda hierarchy has found that justice and that much of the Taliban insurgency has been on the run for years.
I will not give him a free pass that Osama bin Laden was never brought to justice, but I will not let that fact alone cast a shadow over the eight years of domestic safety he helped to provide. That slow-talking, high-strung, Texan may have been a lot of things, but he was a patriot and he was a man of conviction; committed to the cause of keeping American citizens safe. For that I will always be thankful.
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