While some of you may think I hate George W. Bush and never see anything positive about him, let me correct your error. My basic beef with Bush is that he spent money like a Democrat, he attacked Iraq without justification and, in the process, diverted our nation’s attention from getting Bin Laden, and he countenanced the release of Valerie Plame’s identity and approved the use of torture. I think George W. Bush tarnished his family and our nation by this conduct and he will be judged harshly by history. However, let’s give Bush credit for not milking the capture of Saddam Hussein the way that Barack Obama is milking the killing of Bin Laden. The irony is huge and delicious. Bush made a big deal about not treating terrorists under the rules of “law enforcement.” However, when Saddam was snatched from the spider hole he was treated as a prisoner and ultimately tried. He got the law enforcement treatment.
I know the true story of how Saddam was captured. I’ve been privileged to go shooting with the guys who actually did the op (I bought them a box of cigars for their accomplishment). The story the Bush people put out was an effective cover story. They wanted to protect the identity and capability of those who actually did the mission.
What a contrast with Obama. He and his team can’t tell the same story two days in a row. Awful. And in the process he is exposing important classified capabilities. But Obama does not care. He’s desperate to get a bump from this and will do anything to get it.
The contrast between Bush and Obama on this score is enormous. Bush acted like a real leader when it came to the capture of Saddam. Obama has violated everything he claimed to stand for.
