Decision Points

Just finishing the George Bush memoirs "Decision Points." I really respect Bush because he admits his mistakes as president and also clearly explains why he made some of his decisions.

Bush is clear in that protecting Americans was his top priority after 9/11. In the post 9/11 years, Bush is seldom, if ever, questioned for attacking Afghanistan but is questioned for invading Iraq. He states that Saddam had used nerve gas on the Kurds, was not cooperating with U.N. inspections, and was allowing terrorists to exist inside its borders.

Personally, I had questions about invading Iraq when we did, but reading the book caused me to think back to everyone's mindset after 9/11. My feeling was that if even 1 Al Quaeda member was in Iraq and the President wanted to use troops to exterminate the threat, then so be it. Bush is clear that different strategies should have been used to bring about quicker order.

Bush also explains Hurricane Katrina. While he admits some mistakes, the very fact that the Democratic Louisiana Governor would not authorize Bush and the federal government to take charge of the relief for days explains alot. What hypocrisy for liberals to slam Pres. Bush for not caring when Mayor Nagin and the Governor wanted to be in charge and refused troops and federal help!

Bush explains that he attempted to reign in the housing fiasco by addressing the easy loans people were receiving. Of course, when the Democrats took control of Congress in 2006, they made it even easier for people to buy houses they couldn't afford, yet somehow Bush gets the blame. Bush didn't state this, but I will. *The economy began to spiral when the Democrats took control of Congress. I don't think Pres. Bush had much to do with it.*

No President is perfect and Bush admits to this. But the book allows anyone (even a liberal) to understand why he made the decisions he did. I had almost forgotten about how much money Bush authorized to combat AIDS in Africa, which now has allowed many missionary doctors to enter and work.

"Decision Points" is a good read. Whether Pres. Bush was a good President depends on one's perspective, I guess.