Bush Dismisses Iraq Recession: The War Has ‘Nothing To Do With The Economy’
This morning on NBC’s Today Show, President Bush denied that the there’s any link between the faltering U.S. economy and $10 billion a month being spent on the Iraq war. In fact, according to Bush, the war is actually helping the economy: WOW is Bush joking?
Bush is right…wars almost always have a positive effect on the economy.
The biggest problem with the economy is the constant negative spin pushed by doom and gloom media and dems.
War is great for the “fasco-conomy”. Not so good for entrepreneurs, small business, and the REAL private sector.
Bart
I guess you think the 9 trillion dollar debt and growing has nothing to do with the economy?
John,
I know the $9T projected debt is caused more by discretionary spending and entitlement commitments than the war.
I also know the number one function of the U.S. Government is to provide security for this country.
Additionally, I know President Bush tried very hard to address entitlements, but failed due to dems blocking any changes to the antiquated redistribution of wealth system.
What do you know John beyond soundbites provided by doom and gloom economists?
bb: Are you suggesting that if the Bush tax cuts had not been approved that the deficit would be the same or worse?
Previous large scale, expensive wars were coupled with sacrifices, war bonds, and increased taxes so the generation who played war also paid for the play.
This will impact our children and grandchildren, if we have a country left to leave.
GAP,
Just imagine the impact on “our children and grandchildren” if they had to live under Islamic law.
Lefty,
I’m suggesting the tax cuts invigorated a stagnant, possibly even recessionary economy leftover from Clinton.
Without the tax cuts, deficits and debt would indeed be much higher.
Mmmmm. Nothing like a refeshing glass of cherry Kool-Aid after lunch! Thanks bb.
Bart
Oil prices jump with Bush’s nation building strategy!
Bart
The war cost 10 billion a month in cash we do not have. That does not even count futue needs for VETS, jump in oil prices and the dollar going into the tank!
John, Lefty,
Years of data prove tax cuts provide stimulus to the economy thus resulting in more revenue flowing to the federal government. There is no way to avoid the facts no matter how much both of you support higher taxes.
As I have stated many times, security for this nation should come before any other expense. You anti-security folks always resort to war costs, yet fail to consider the real cause of any deficits/debts being accumulated — ENTITLEMENTS!!!
How much is spent each month on entitlements John? I bet it is far higher than $10B.
Bart:
“I also know the number one function of the U.S. Government is to provide security for this country.”
It would be a lot cheaper and we would be a lot safer if our borders and ports were protected. Having been in the first Iraq conflict, they surrendered to CNN camera men. That sorry band of fundamentalists could not manage a US invasion if we kept track of people here on Visas, visits and prevented them from entering.
Britain has more of a threat than we do and they invited them in.
We are in Iraq, according to our President, to bring them democracy. I would like to see some in my formerly great country and Iraq could go to Allah.
Bart, I can’t agree with much of what you say on the war economy.
Studies have shown that what appear to be gains come with a high price tag in many ways. One, of course is debt that all Americans end up paying for.
As far as security, we could have left Iraq after we won the war and found Saddam and simply warned them that another month-long, low casualty (for us) would be forth-coming if they didn’t resume U.N. requirements under the cease fire.
The U.N. would have sent in inspectors and if they were thwarted by the new government, then another “sweep” and a new government could take power. We could fight 10 wars, and not lose what we are losing to keep Iraq oil sales in dollars or to “have a democracy.”
The whole Bush administration has been mistake after mistake and much of the blame has to be laid at the feet of both the Republican and Democrat Congressional war between parties.
He may have had good intentions but he got very lousy advice, if so. Congress also sabotaged the troops and they have undermined our economy. You can’t blame the President when almost every bill had to first be passed by Congress.
Congress is going to destroy this nation regardless of who is President as long as the current trends remain in place that Congress has set.
JP,
Whose idea was the “compassionate war”?
I am with Tancredo – bomb Mecca.
That is why, I believe, this was all about trying to shore up the dollar.
We really had no reason to stay (we didn’t after Desert Storm) except to make sure the sale of oil was switched to dollars and stay in dollars. The other reason was, from the “get-go,” Iran. Iran was talking about switching to the Euro and I believe Bush thought our occupation of Iraq, return of Iraq sales of oil to dollars, would intimidate Iran.
The only other nation talking about ending the sale of oil in dollars was Venezuela at that time (before we entered Iraq). We attempted to have Chavez assassinated and failed and now you see how they regard us.
That isn’t an excuse or justification or support of Chavez. He is just another Castro. But, we get 12% of our oil from him and ticking him off made no sense. I guess, of course, if we had been successful in having him assassinated, things might be different. Then we would have the group that took over calling the shots and we have seen how well that works in many cases. We end up with something worse.
If the American people don’t understand why we really do what we do around the world, they are left scratching their heads (and other locations) wondering what in the heck possesses our leaders to do what they do.
Remember, there were articles written before we ever had 9-11 that we would go to war with Iraq over their move to sales in euro’s in Nov. 2000. Long before 9-11, plans were being laid to find an excuse to use cease fire violations as justifications to resume the on-going war in Iraq that was only suspended as long as Saddam was a “good boy.” As soon as he started playing games with the U.N. inspectors he was playing Russian Roulette with the U.S. as the gun.