A Sage's Advice to Mr. Bush

At the outset, the voices against war in Iraq were few and muffled by the overall support of the American public. It seemed that only Leftists (my camp) and Libertarians had the nerve to state publicly that the pretexts for this war were built on lies and gross miscalculations. However, as we've all witnessed as of late, more and more conservatives are daring to join the bandwagon of criticism.

When a notable conservative like William F. Buckley, Jr. starts criticizing the president on the conduct of the war, people start to take notice. However, one of the most outspoken conservatives on the topic has been Paul Craig Roberts, a former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury in the Reagan Administration.

In an article released today on antiwar.com, "Why Did Bush Destroy Iraq?", Roberts writes,

President Bush's determination to remain in Iraq despite the obvious failure of the attempted occupation puts Bush at odds with the American public and with our troops. Polls show that a majority of Americans believe that the invasion of Iraq was a mistake and that our troops should be withdrawn. An even larger majority of the troops themselves believe they should be withdrawn.

Yet Bush, who is incapable of admitting a mistake, persists in a strategic blunder that is turning into a catastrophe.

All this has got me to thinking about who is providing counsel to the president. He tells us that he has been having conversations with God himself and that his God approves both of his decisions and his conduct of this so-called war.

But what if Bush had sought the counsel of someone different? What if Bush had sought the advice of Lao Tzu? I believe Lao Tzu would tell the president some of the following:

If men are not afraid to die, it is of no avail to threaten them with death.
from #Seventy-Four

Why do the people think so little of death?
Because the rulers demand too much of life.
Therefore the people take death lightly.
from #Seventy-Five

A good soldier is not violent.
A good fighter is not angry.
A good winner is not vengeful.
from #Sixty-Eight

Those who know do not talk.
Those who talk do not know.
from #Fifty-Six

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