9/12/02—Sources within WH inner circle say Bush is "out of control"

I remember reading this way back then. Can't say we weren't warned.
If he was out of control in Sept. 2002, what is he now?

The Woodward book is a puff-piece.

http://www.onlinejournal.com/Special_Reports/Hersh091202/hersh091202.html

White House insiders say Bush is "out of control"
By Mike Hersh
Online Journal Contributing Writer

"For 11 long years, Saddam Hussein has sidestepped, crawfished, wheedled out of any agreement he had made not to harbor, not to develop weapons of mass destruction, agreements he's made to treat the people within his country with respect. And so I'm going to call upon the world to recognize that he is stiffing the world."—George W. Bush, 9/5/02

September 12, 2002—Sources within the White House inner circle say George W. Bush is "out of control." An unprovoked attack against Iraq is imminent, because Bush believes he's on a mission from God to rid the world of Saddam Hussein, whether the world likes it or not.

High ranking Republicans express strong dissent against Bush's plans. The Washington Post reports: "Brent Scowcroft and James Baker, respectively the national security adviser and secretary of state in the first Bush administration, have advised against invasion." International and congressional leaders support renewed weapons inspections, but White House sources say Bush himself demands removal of Saddam as his objective. Bush "talks a lot about the oppression of the Iraqi people, and liberating from this madman." (New Plan On Iraq Emerges, Former Officials Urge U.S. Caution)

We aren't privy to the secret intelligence, but our allies and these top Republicans are. They all say Bush hasn't made the case that Iraq poses a clear and present danger. That's why our allies are not lining up to join the Bush "Crusade" against Saddam. That's why top elected Republicans and two generations of GOP wise men reject Bush's "cowboy diplomacy."

Rather than consider this counsel as he claims he's doing, Bush is stepping up his rush to war. This belies Bush's more placid public pronouncements, in which he claims he will respect Congressional prerogatives: "President Bush promised yesterday to seek congressional authorization before taking any military action to ensure Iraqi disarmament." (Bush to Seek Hill Approval on Iraq War)

According to inside sources, this is all for show. Bush has already made up his mind to attack Iraq. We must ask ourselves: Why war? Why now? The only credible answers are alarming. As during his campaigns, Bush is relying on others like Richard Cheney to present his anger to the public. George W. Bush is very angry today.

In private, Bush is lashing out against his Secretary of State, General Colin Powell for "undermining his authority." True, Powell informed the public about the "fierce debate within the administration over a possible confrontation with Iraq," however he defers to Bush: "Now that the holiday period is over and all the European colleagues are back to work, and the United Nations General Assembly will be meeting next week, I think you will see the president will pull all these threads together," said Bush's top diplomat. (Powell Cites ﾑRealﾒ Divide Internally on Iraq Policy

more...

The cancer has grown exponentially since this was written.

of our lives right now. If they leave these soldiers hang out to dry, will a military coup be far behind?

TIA

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