DETROIT -- Bold, creative leadership can save the day, shape events and change the course of history. Recognizing rare opportunities and seizing the moment, choosing the unpredictable, yet reasonable, over the predictable and mundane separates great leaders from pedestrian politicians.
Military might and economic power make George W. Bush, America's pedestrian in chief, an important player on the world stage. But his negative influence on world opinion drives the way billions of people across the globe perceive our nation -- as an arrogant aggressor doing whatever we please and exploiting the Third World for our narrow and greedy purposes. Much of that perception is based in reality.
The president's reaction to the Asian tsunami underscores his insensitivity, isolation and limited understanding of vital demographics in the world that ultimately affect our national interests and security. It also represents a failed opportunity to begin changing how the rest of the world views its richest and most powerful nation.
The administration's reaction to the disaster was befuddled, and its initial offers of aid were embarrassingly inadequate. The episode also points to a rule in the Bush White House. No matter how important an event may be, or how dire the warning is (See: The CIA's Presidential Daily Briefing presented on Aug. 6, 2001, at Bush's Crawford, Texas, ranch entitled, "Bin Laden Determined to Attack within the U.S."), Bush's handlers follow this directive: Nothing disturbs the president when he's on vacation. Other than political fund-raisers, he rarely does anything outside his relaxing routine. Even when he takes a work break at the White House, Bush is meticulously programmed and predictable.
His ballyhooed secret visit to the troops in Baghdad for Thanksgiving in 2003 was carefully planned and scripted, right down to the soldiers chosen for their political correctness as they posed for photos with the president when he presented them with a Halliburton-supplied faux turkey.
The United States' initial offer of aid for the tsunami victims drifted from a miserly $400,000 to a ridiculous $15 million to a paltry $35 million in a 24-hour news cycle. The $35 million figure, which endured for a few days, was especially callous when you consider the Republican fat cats have already shelled out $45 million to celebrate George W.'s inauguration for his first elected, not selected, term in office.
The figure is now $350 million with a promise of more to come, raising the question of what idiot came up with the $400,000 figure in the first place and what kind of handle the president had on the disaster, which has taken at least 150,000 lives. Disease and starvation will add to that grim total.
The president missed a grand opportunity to do something meaningful and unpredictable in the face of the disaster. Bush could have joined with representatives from the United Nations, the European Union, Japan, India, Singapore and Russia, along with people from non-governmental organizations, and formed a core group to plan the massive relief efforts. Bush could have flown to the scene to survey the destruction firsthand and met with victims to show his sympathy.
Imagine seeing George W. Bush, whose entire life has been spent in a bubble of protection and privilege, mixing with people desperate for protection and hope. That would have required great personal and political courage, but would have been well worth the risk. The president could have shown the same reassuring leadership he showed standing the rubble of the Twin Towers.
Such a mission would have brought relief to the suffering and sent an important symbolic message. Indonesia, the epicenter of the disaster, has the largest Muslim population on earth. It is also fertile ground for Islamic extremists. India, Sri Lanka and many other areas in South Asia hit by the tsunami have significant minorities who embrace Islam. Many of them see the United States as a military bully. Showing a different America -- generous, altruistic -- would be a much better reflection of the kind of national character we are capable of demonstrating to the world.
Sadly, such risk-taking and unexpected moves seem out of Bush's grasp. Other presidents -- Harry Truman and Ronald Reagan, for example -- have shown him the virtue of unpredictability.
In 1948, the Soviet Union blocked rail and road access to West Berlin in a provocative act in the Cold War. The Soviets figured the Americans, British and French would cede their section of the city, already surrounded by the Red Army, and call it a day. Harry Truman had other ideas and boldly executed an airlift to supply the threatened enclave.
Truman's unpredictable move surprised the Soviets. It was easy for them to close roads and rail transportation, but shooting down an Allied plane was far too risky. Truman's action paid off. A year later, the embarrassed Soviets lifted the blockade, and the world looked with favor on America's determination and humanitarian assistance to the people of West Berlin.
Nearly 40 years later, Ronald Reagan performed another unpredictable play that helped bring about the end of the Cold War. Meeting with Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev at a summit in Reykjavik, Iceland, Reagan surprised everyone when he dared to discuss the subject of eliminating all nuclear weapons. Reagan's willingness to be bold in his thinking shocked Pentagon hardliners who could never conceive of any deal with the Soviets. A year later, Reagan and Gorbachev cut a deal on intermediate-range missiles, and the Cold War thawed.
Bush, the Republicans, their wealthy friends and corporate sponsors can still do something to help the tsunami victims and improve the U.S. image in the world. They can change the inauguration celebration from an expensive, pompous coronation event into an act of international charity. Instead of the martial parade already planned, let's try something different. Why not have school children from around the country march carrying signs with pictures of the disaster and messages of hope and help for the suffering? This White House can organize one big inaugural ball fund-raiser, the proceeds of which would go to a respected aid organization like Catholic Relief Services to help with the monumental task of keeping people alive and rebuilding their lives.
The president can make it clear he is behind the effort and encourage patrons to participate. The word could be spread that the relief event will be where the early-to-bed president will be spending most of his time on inauguration night. Charge $100,000 a ticket. The organizers will have no problem selling out a huge venue and raising tens of millions of dollars. After all, these are the folks who have benefited most from the Bush tax cuts and their donations would be tax deductible.
What a marvelous opportunity to help those in desperate need while showing the generous nature of the American people and our commitment to humanity. What a refreshing example of leadership for George W. Bush to display, setting the tone for his last term in office. Sadly, the president and those around him lack the flair and unpredictability to commit such a noble and transforming act.
But maybe, just for once, they could surprise us all and try something bold and unexpected. Such daring decency would actually help them politically.
| Niagara Falls Reporter | www.niagarafallsreporter.com | Jan. 4 2005 |