Bush and History

Published in El Pais
(Spain) on 10 November 2010
by (link to originallink to original)
Translated from by Joseph Locatelli. Edited by Heidi Kaufmann.
Those who watched his departure from the White House with relief should prepare themselves. George W. Bush, the former Republican president of the United States, returns. Starting today, and for a long season, it will be nearly impossible not to see him in the media. Before being released for sale yesterday, his memoir, “Decision Points,” was already one of the most in-demand books on Amazon, and now the ex-president is to commence a national tour that will include a few television appearances.

Bush has already granted one interview, in which he has reinvented himself as a man against the violence utilized to invade Iraq. He has had two years to rethink and explain. Two years in the refuge of his ranch in Crawford, Texas, after leaving Washington as one of the least-accepted presidents in history, to reappear now as a man that seeks understanding.

The president that invaded Iraq, created Guantanamo and authorized systematic torture and secret prisons not only presents himself as a naive politician, pushed by his advisors to enter Iraq, but he also says that he suffered for it. Perhaps for the 150,000 deaths — the majority civilian — that have been caused to date by that decision? No. Bush suffers because they never found weapons of mass destruction that supposedly were hidden by Saddam Hussein and that were the reason for the invasion. “I had a sickening feeling every time I thought about it. I still do,” he laments.

There is another sorrow: how he reacted badly to Hurricane Katrina. For the rest, faithful to himself he explains, pleasantly (with his Texas boots on the table?), the most difficult decisions of his life through which, he thinks, he saved lives. How, when the CIA asked him for permission to torture a detainee of 9/11, he responded, “Damn right.” And along the same line, he clarified his permission of the water boarding of the detainees, in that it is a strong method that does not cause permanent harm.

Yesterday Bush signed books at a hectic pace. With a first printing of 1.5 million copies, there will be many benefits, but the CIA no longer asks him questions. Now, he can change his history, but his decisions do not change ours.




Quienes vieron su salida de la Casa Blanca con alivio deben prepararse. Vuelve George W. Bush, el último presidente republicano de Estados Unidos. A partir de hoy y durante una larga temporada será casi imposible no verlo en algún medio de comunicación. Antes de salir a la venta ayer mismo su libro de memorias Decision points (Momentos decisivos), ya era uno de los textos más demandados en Amazon y ahora el ex presidente se dispone a iniciar una gira nacional que incluirá unos cuantos platós de televisión.

Ya ha concedido alguna entrevista, en la que Bush se ha reinventado a sí mismo como un hombre contrario a la violencia utilizada para invadir Irak. Ha tenido dos años para repensarse y explicarse. Dos años refugiado en su rancho de Crawford (Tejas), tras dejar Washington como uno de los presidentes menos aceptados de la historia, para reaparecer ahora como un hombre que busca comprensión como sea.

El presidente que invadió Irak, creó Guantánamo, autorizó torturas sistemáticas y cárceles secretas, no solo se presenta como un cándido político empujado por sus asesores a entrar en Irak, sino que dice sufrir por ello. ¿Quizá por los 150.000 muertos, la mayoría civiles, que ha causado hasta ahora aquella decisión? No. Bush sufre porque nunca se encontraron las armas de destrucción masiva que supuestamente ocultaba el régimen de Sadam Husein y que fueron el detonante de la invasión. "Todavía me siento mal por ello", se lamenta.

Hay algún otro pesar, como el de haber reaccionado mal al huracán Katrina. Por lo demás, fiel a sí mismo explica, simpático (¿con las botas tejanas sobre la mesa?), las decisiones más difíciles de su vida a través de las cuales, cree, salvó vidas. Como cuando la CIA le pidió permiso para torturar a un detenido del 11-S. "Claro que sí, demonios", respondió. Y en la misma línea permitió el ahogamiento simulado a los detenidos para aclarar después que es un método duro que no causa daño permanente.

Bush firmaba ayer libros a ritmo desenfrenado. Con una primera tirada de 1,5 millones de ejemplares los beneficios serán cuantiosos, pero la CIA ya no le pregunta. Ahora puede cambiar su historia, pero sus decisiones ya no cambiarán la nuestra.
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