Weapons of Mass Destruction?

Those of us who voted for President George W. Bush for both terms were a bit disappointed that he gave the liberal left ammunition to use against his administration when he did not obtain adequate intelligence about weapons of mass destruction before going to war in Iraq for a regime change. According to the principles of just war a nation must have overwhelming evidence that national and world peace are at stake before entering into a war. It seems to me that President Bush, while sincere in his war against terrorism, did not go the extra mile in making sure there was adequate support for the existence of weapons of mass destruction by the Saddam Hussein regime in Iraq.

Granted, Bush should be granted the benefit of the doubt because just prior to that we had the worst terrorist attack this nation has ever experienced when two Saudi Arabian nationals, who were members of the Al Qaeda terrorist organization, flew two fully fueled 747 commercial airliners into each of the twin towers of the World Trade Center, destroying both. But this would be to let the President off too lightly. War is a serious endeavor and has worldwide ramifications for both national security and for foreign relations and policy. Essentially, because the war had a false justification to begin with and because the promised exit time keeps getting pushed back due to the difficulties of establishing a self-sufficient democratic government, Bush has been mostly a lame duck president in his second term.

But the angry liberal left had promised to undercut any bipartisanship that the President attempted because they were bitter about losing the both elections after running their two golden boys, Gore and Kerry. The combination of Bush's unfulfilled promises of bipartisan cooperation, the mismanaged war effort, and the lack of justification for the war initially has made for a Bush legacy that will be mixed at best.

Mostly, the greatest advantage for social conservatives is Bush's appointment of two Supreme Court justices, including the new Chief Justice John Roberts. It remains to be seen whether John Roberts, and whoever the other Bush nomination is, will indeed be willing to overturn or at least restrict abortion rights under Roe v. Wade. All we know at present is that Roberts has promised not to legislate from the bench. It is indeed humorous that Democrats do not want conservatives to be proactive from the bench, while at the same time advocating major innovations in social structure and the traditional family from the judicial branch and the legislative branch of government.

My only hope and prayer for the Bush administration is that the President will regain a strong focus and purpose for what he has promised to accomplish and that he can overcome the blatant partisanship of the extreme left and the far right. May God grant this nation the grace to steer a steady course between a rock and a hard place.

• A Prayer for The President of the United States, and all in Civil Authority.
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  O Lord, our heavenly Father, the high and mighty Ruler of the universe, who dost from thy throne behold all the dwe llers upon earth; Most heartily we beseech thee, with thy favour to behold and bless thy servant, George W. Bush, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, and all others in authority; and so replenish them with the grace of thy Holy Spirit, that they may always incline to thy will, and walk in thy way. Endue them plenteously with heavenly gifts; grant them in health and prosperity long to live; and finally, after t his life, to attain everlasting joy and felicity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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  A Prayer for all Conditions of Men.
• O God, the Creator and Preserver of all mankind, we humbly beseech thee for all sorts and conditions of men; that t hou wouldest be pleased to make thy ways known unto them, thy saving health unto all nations. More especially we pray for thy holy C hurch universal; that it may be so guided and governed by thy good Spirit, that all who profess and call themselves Christians may b e led into the way of truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life. Finally, we commend to thy fatherly goodness all those who are any ways afflicted, or distressed, in mind, body, or estate; that it may please t hee to comfort and relieve them, according to their several necessities; giving them patience under their sufferings, and a happy is sue out of all their afflictions. And this we beg for Jesus Christ's sake. Amen.
• From the 1928 Book of Common Prayer