Running from his record. What candidate bush said about foreign policy

[donkeyotay]

Here is a sampling of what Bush said he stood for, so that you can compare it to his record of the past four years. (Emphasis added is mine.)

From the first presidential debate in Boston:

Question: How would you decide when it was in the national interest to use US force?

BUSH: Well, if it’s in our vital national interests. And that means:
1. Whether our territory is threatened, our people could be harmed, whether or not our defense alliances are threatened, whether or not our friends in the Middle East are threatened.
2. Whether or not the mission was clear, whether or not it was a clear understanding as to what the mission would be.
3. Whether or not we were prepared and trained to win, whether or not our forces were of high morale and high standing and well-equipped.
4. And finally, whether or not there was an exit strategy.

I would take the use of force very seriously. I would be guarded in my approach. I don’t think we can be all things to all people in the world. I think we’ve got to be very careful when we commit our troops. The vice president believes in nation-building. I would be very careful about using our troops as nation builders.


http://issues2000.org/Archive/Boston_debate_Foreign_Policy.htm


From the Wake Forest debate:

Question: Should the people of the world fear us, or see us as a friend?
BUSH: They ought to look at us as a country that understands freedom where it doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from that you can succeed. I don’t think they ought to look at us with envy. It really depends upon how nation conducts itself in foreign policy. If we’re an arrogant nation, they’ll resent us. If we’re a humble nation, but strong, they’ll welcome us. Our nation stands alone right now in the world in terms of power. And that’s why we’ve got to be humble and yet project strength in a way that promotes freedom. We’re a freedom-loving nation. If we’re an arrogant nation, they’ll view us that way, but if we’re humble nation, they’ll respect us.

http://issues2000.org/Archive/Wake_Forest_debate_George_W__Bush.htm


Governor Bush addresses the foreign policy issue in an interview by Jim Lehrer on “The Newshour,” 04/27/2000

BUSH: I'd rate myself very strong on education, fiscal policy, domestic issues that I've lived with as governor, and I would rate myself as somebody who is going to have the best foreign policy team. But I'm a fast learner, and listen, I'm not going to play like I've been a person who's spent hours involved with foreign policy. I am who I am.

http://www.vote-smart.org/speech_detail.php?speech_id=924&keyword=2000+election&phrase=&contain=

From the New Hampshire GOP debated, Dec 3, 1999:

To be a good president when it comes to foreign policy, it requires someone with vision, judgment and leadership. I’ve been the governor of the 2nd biggest state. If it were a nation, it would be the 11th largest economy in the world. I have had foreign policy as the governor of Texas, with Mexico. My goal, should I become the President, is to keep the peace. I intend to do so by promoting free trade; by strengthening alliances; and by strengthening the military to make sure that the world is peaceful.

http://issues2000.org/2004/More_George_W__Bush_Foreign_Policy.htm

And lastly, this quote that sounds almost prescient coming well before September 11th “changed everything.”

Remarks made at a campaign rally at the Kansas City Airport, 02/22/2000 by Governor George W. Bush:
I can't wait to talk about my message to make sure that we restore the military to keep the peace. (Cheers and applause.) I'm a cold-eyed realist when it comes to the world. This is still a world of uncertainty. It's an uncertain world. But we're certain of certain things. We're certain that even though the Evil Empire may have passed, evil still remains. We're certain there are people who cannot stand what America stands for. They resent our successes. They resent our freedoms. And we're certain that there are madmen and missiles and terror.

http://www.vote-smart.org/speech_detail.php?speech_id=782&keyword=2000+election&phrase=&contain

[Avalux]

1. That was then

No matter shrub said these things - the spin is that the world is completely different after 9/11, policies had to change. That's the excuse for every flip-flop, every broken promise, every radical decision. Sad thing is, it works with the American people. Shrub is held accountable for zero. 9/11 was like hitting the lottery for him; although that last bit is quite foretelling.

[donkeyotay]

2. oops, this should have been in general discussion - election 04

So true. They're bashing Kerry's military record, but we can't even look at whether candidate bush was honest (let alone coherent). Can't hardly count the times that man hit the lottery.

And yes, that last bit is quite foretelling...