From an western pov it might be absurd, but it is not if you were born in a middle east country. To them GWB, has been the agressor in iraq and (indirectly) caused a civil war that cost hundred thousands of iraqi lives. If you include the US support to israel, it is not hard to imagine they see the US as evil.

Though I certainly agree the first two were barbaric in achieving their goals, I also recognise that the barbaric actions in abu graib, guantama bay and the secret CIA prisons and the US refusal of the recognition to the international court and excuses for not confirming the geneva convention for prisoners, do not make the US a saint in this respect. The president is the political responsible person for all of this. Don't forget that those stories will lead their own life in middle east countries. It is no wonder why many people from the middle east view the US as a source of evil. It is hard to accept, but it is true, and if you look from their standpoint you might understand why. If your family was raped and killed by US soldiers (iraq) it does not take much for the whole region they live in to hate the US, even though we recognise it is an incident. When invading/liberating such countries you have to realise that you're in a 'china shop' . If you break it, you own it. And what to think if you were born in iran.. "Some far country is making the rules whether or not you can develop nuclear power plants. What a arrogance. Why do we have to deal with a barbaric country that refuses to accept allah as their god.."

Now of course, you could blame those countries for hating the US, but thatis really a cheap shot. Look at your own faults before blaming others. The US has been too optimisitic and too ignorant in their actions in the middle east under GWB and in fact a lot of former US presidents (though I want to add that GHB's action is seen as a legitimate action in most parts of the world).

But the title of this thread is correct. We hardly knew him. We first saw him as friend, then as enemy. Tell me, why so ?? what are the reasons. It was not that saddam had changed much, but we the western wolrd had different agendas on what we tollerated or not. Saddam was refusing to be a puppet of the west and went his own course, which we did not like. Still we supported him in his war against iran. Saddam was on who was able to keep iraq united, without such force, the country will fall appart (which already more or less is the case). But after all it was a country that should not exist anyways.

For the record: Personally I'm not thinking that GBW belongs to that list, however he belongs at the top of the most incompetent US presidents the US ever had. The fact that he was elected twice should americans making think... History is paved with examples of democratic chosen leader that totally ruined their country. I wish the american people a lot of wisdom in the new year to regain confidence in the US world wide, by acting as a sole world power should.









Walter,





>--the whole world had a vote in it, they'd love to see GWB next to those two.
>--All is subjective depeding on which part of the world you are born.
>
>Walter, that is absurd.
>
>That trivializes what bin Laden and Hussein have done. Any parallels between those who initiate violence and bloodshed, and those who seek to end it, are nauseating and bankrupt.
>
>Kevin