Why? Because we got the guns, baby

[khaosworks]

Monday, Apr. 14, 2003
The Power of One
However you feel about the war, George W. Bush is the real thing: a leader
By MICHAEL KINSLEY

The "great man" theory of history has been out of fashion for decades. Historians trying to explain the course of human events point to geography or climate or technology. They explore the everyday life of ordinary people and the tides of change that sweep through whole populations. When they write about individual historical actors, the emphasis tends to be on psychology. Kings and Queens, Presidents and Prime Ministers may affect events at the margins, but the notion that history happens because someone decided it should happen is regarded as unenlightening if not simply wrong.

About Gulf War II and its consequences (whatever they may be), though, the "great man" theory is correct, and the great man is President George W. Bush. Great in this context does not necessarily mean good or wise. It does usually suggest a certain largeness of character or presence on the stage, which Bush does not possess. Whatever gods gave him this role were casting against type. But the role is his. This was George W. Bush's war. It was the result of one man's deliberate, sudden and unforced decision. Yes, Saddam Hussein deserves the ultimate moral blame, but Bush pushed the button.

Essentially, why did Bush do it? Because he could. And everyone followed him. It's a scary commentary on what happens when demagoguery and rhetoric wins over rationality and common sense and we would do well to remember it. It is the politics of fear, the same way Christian fundamentalists preach the religion of fear. It is no coincidence that Bush is a born again Christian - I know the type because I used to be one myself, Chick tracts and all. In the end, there is little difference between "Follow me or you'll get another 9/11" and "Follow me or you'll burn in Hell."