I must admit I was not a huge fan of GHWB before Sadam's invasion of Kuwait. But his leadership on the first Iraq War made me an admirer for life. Impressive as his coalition building & the prosecution of Desert Storm was, I was even more impressed with his immediate withdrawal.
Keep in mind GHWB's decision to immediately withdraw after quickly and decisively pushing Sadam Hussein's forces out of Kuwait (mission truly accomplished!) was controversial at the time.
Many geopolitical strategists wanted the U.S. to push all the way to Baghdad, which by the way militarily would have been a cakewalk at the time, but GHWB refused to do so. One of the wisest decisions he made.
GHWB was proven so very prescient by his son's folly to do in Iraq what GHWB refused to do. Bush Senior knew the military conquest was the relatively easy part. Our military might and skill is unmatched. Dealing with the aftermath of the conquest is diabolically hard.
In case of Iraq, the father really did know best.
The End
The End
Four Words That Won A War
As a tribute to GHWB, I am reminded of the moment he delivered four words which galvanized a nation and beat back Sadam Hussein's occupation of Kuwait -- words that expressed a steely resolve like I had never seen in him before: "This will not stand."
As a tribute to GHWB, I am reminded of the moment he delivered four words which galvanized a nation and beat back Sadam Hussein's occupation of Kuwait -- words that expressed a steely resolve like I had never seen in him before: "This will not stand."
