I tried to give the new guy the benefit of the doubt. But after reading this story, I wonder how what other huge relevations he has yet to experience.
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Bush (news - web sites) was stunned last month when told of the extent of the U.S. nuclear arsenal, Newsweek magazine reported in its June 25 edition, released on Sunday. I had no idea we had so many weapons,'' Bush was quoted as saying by an unidentified White House insider.’’
``What do we need them for?’’ the president was said to have asked at a briefing, according to the Newsweek report.
Oops, looks like I’m clueless. The 95% number is not his official policy, but it’s the number being thrown out to the media by one of his advisors, presumably to see what the public reaction is.
I thought it was common knowledge that the US had over 10,000 nuclear warheads. Its not exactly an obscure bit of information. I’d like to think that the president would know BEFOREHAND how many nuclear weapons he is in charge of, and not be startled several months into his administration. So now after several months of behing hawksih on defense, to the dismay if Europe, Russia, and East Asia, now he wants to slash the arsenal. That doesn’t sound like having a “goal” to me, it sounds like they are flying by the seat of their pants.
Ah yes, how nice. An unattributed, unconfirmed, second-party quote, making it abolutely impossible to evaluate its veracity . I’m sorry, but I have to regard this as little more than rumor. And since we all know reporters are paragons of virtue, there’s no chance this report has been “embellished.” Frankly, I’m surprised an editor would even let something like this be published.
But I do agree, U.S. possession of nearly 20,000 nuclear warheads is totally unnecessary in today’s environment. In fact, we could eliminate all of 'em. Or we could, if everybody else gets rid of all of theirs, too. But that ain’t gonna happen.
Going a little further on UncleBeer’s comment, I think the biggest cause of concern is that this got leaked in the first place. What kind of “White House insider” is trusted enough to sit with Bush on a meeting of nuclear arsenal, but not loyal enough to keep Bush’s comments to himself? How can Bush possibly discuss the really important things a president must discuss with advisors, if he can’t even trust his staff to keep the stupid stuff he says off the front page?
He doesn’t need insiders to leak the stupid stuff he said. While in Sweden, he was nice enough to directly tell the press that Africa is a nation. I don’t have a cite, but I it was later on Meet the Press, and Condoleeza Rice (his NSA) confirmed it by saying that the president IS aware that Africa is a continent. She seemed to laugh it off, but its stupid stuff like this that just keeps building up.
…but unfortunately, not the first high-ranking US official to reveal, subconsciously or not, that he doesn’t give a rat’s ass about the rest of the world. Reagan comes to mind, here…
Quayle did that sort of thing all the time, but he was just flat out, monkey-ass stupid.
Every president does and says stupid things. Hell, Reagan threatened to nuke the Russians as a joke and it was broadcast over the PA system of a meeting he was attending. He also mistook one of his own cabinent members for a visiting Mayor.
The issue isn’t what the President says or does out in the open. Here we have a topic of great security and someone attending the meeting can’t keep his fool mouth shut about an absolute trivial thing. Plus, he (or she) is such a wuss that that person had to be refered to as a “white house insider” for fear of retribution. Look, leaking this nothing story to the press is not something I want to risk losing my job over.
Bush is an idiot. Well wonderful. But the quality of a leader is measured also by the people he surrounds himself with and takes advice from. The result here is most disconcerting.
Clinton is an idiot? Wanna back that up some how? Believe it or not, that guy is a very gifted human being. Bush on the other hand is special…ED.
If I were president, I’d keep them too. I wouldn’t plan on using them though. It’s an intimidation factor. Who’s gonna mess with us when we have 10,000 nukes laying around?
Futhermore, how much is it going to cost us to get rid of these nukes? I say let the Bush family get rid of them by hand, it’s cheaper that way and it will ensure that we wont have to deal with anymore “little Bush’s” running around due to the steralization from the radiation.
And had former President Clinton actually announced plans to unilaterally reduce the current inventory of nuclear weapons by 95%, we all know the understanding and enlightened Republican right would have fully supported such a measure. Politics is the art of the possible, and for a “liberal” Democrat who was already regarded as a draft dodger and weak on national defense issues to start fudging with the doctrine fo MAD, given a Republican controlled legislature, was not possible.
I agree, if this quote is accurate, it’s disturbing that Bush wouldn’t have known about this. However, as UncleBeer has pointed out, we don’t have much reason to believe it is true. Of course, I didn’t believe that Clinton would have been stupid enough to get blow jobs in the oval office, so my track record isn’t all that great on this kind of stuff.
Hoo-boy! That’s a good one. With blistering attacks like this I can’t imagine Bush will be able to stand the heat for much longer. I guess he’ll have to go and hide on the “short bus,” huh? (har-har)
Sweetie, if you REALLY want to know about this man, look at his record as the governor of Texas. He cares NOTHING about the environment. Just look up his record there. I DON’T condone Clinton’s private life, whatever it may or may not have involved. Frankly, I don’t think it any of my business. It is, IMHO, the business of his wife and child…CERTAINLY, it is not mine. Anymore than my {totally without err, blameless life) is CLINTON’S business.
Whatever…I just want what is best for this country, which I love.
Bush Jr?
He is, IMHO, an idiot.
The man is a jerk, and a phony, and not very smart. Again, IMHO.
And if you all find Clinton’s sexual peccidillios distasteful, then I guess you are all going to swear off sex until you find the “right” woman… The one who makes it possible for you to “stand fast” and resist someone flipping their unclothed behind in your face. Good luck.
Sheesh.
Hey…don’t get me wrong…I think it is possible, wonderful and best case scenario that you should find the ulitmate woman that you love, adore and treasure.
But sorry, how many of you would resist a woman who “flicked her thong bikini” butt at you? I wonder. If it turns out that you fall in love, more power to you. But…if you were President? Give me a LARGE break.
Well, I am babbling. I guess. Just a sort of “stream of concious thng.” I guess I give up.
