God told me to do it

[mdlbear]

God told me to invade Iraq, Bush tells Palestinian ministers

President George W. Bush told Palestinian ministers that God had told him to invade Afghanistan and Iraq - and create a Palestinian State, a new BBC series reveals.

In Elusive Peace: Israel and the Arabs, a major three-part series on BBC TWO (at 9.00pm on Monday 10, Monday 17 and Monday 24 October), Abu Mazen, Palestinian Prime Minister, and Nabil Shaath, his Foreign Minister, describe their first meeting with President Bush in June 2003.

Nabil Shaath says: "President Bush said to all of us: 'I'm driven with a mission from God. God would tell me, "George, go and fight those terrorists in Afghanistan." And I did, and then God would tell me, "George, go and end the tyranny in Iraq..." And I did. And now, again, I feel God's words coming to me, "Go get the Palestinians their state and get the Israelis their security, and get peace in the Middle East." And by God I'm gonna do it.'"

Abu Mazen was at the same meeting and recounts how President Bush told him: "I have a moral and religious obligation. So I will get you a Palestinian state."

The series charts the attempts to bring peace to the Middle East, from Bill Clinton's peace talks in 1999/2000 to Israel's withdrawal from Gaza last August.

Norma Percy, series producer of The 50 Years War (1998) returns, with producers Mark Anderson and Dan Edge, to tell the inside story of another seven years of crisis.

Presidents and Prime Ministers, their generals and ministers tell what happened behind closed doors as peace talks failed and the intifada exploded.

Is it just me, or is Bush a dangerous religious fanatic?

Comments

[braider.livejournal.com]

It's not just you...

[trogula.livejournal.com]

At times like these, I wish the Christian god had a sense of humor.

"Georgie...Georgie....this is God, Georgie. Go eat a cheeseburger, George. Eat a cheeseburger for Jebus, I say!"

And no...it's not just you.

[patoadam]

It's not just you. I would say that Bush is deluded, and unfit to hold office by reason of mental illness.

[vixyish.livejournal.com]

If you'll pardon the expression, Jesus fucking Christ.

Ahem.

[lapislaz.livejournal.com]

No, it's not just you. It's HIM!

“When religion and politics ride in the same cart, the whirlwind follows.” - Frank Herbert

[victorthecook.livejournal.com]

I don't think he's actually religious; I think (note: I am not a psychiatrist) that he's a borderline psychopath. Huge ego, short temper, appetite for excitement, lack of empathy, no comprehension of other people's suffering (eg. Katrina). Of course he thinks God talks to him -- who else would be God's go-to guy?

No he's not a religious fanatic. He's somebody who uses Jesus to trick people.

[tagryn]

Given the weird stuff that comes out of Middle Eastern politicians on a regular basis (MEMRI.org usually has some choice examples), this is very much a case of "consider the source."

[mdlbear]

"Consider the source" -- several different people quoted in a BBC documentary. Yes, the BBC might have failed to check their facts, but I trust them more than I do most US media. And given what we know of Bush and his administration it's highly plausible, which may be even more frightening.

[tagryn]

The comments were made by one fellow, Shaath, who has since clarified & retracted them.

It is plausible to certain folks because it is what they want to believe, just like all the rumors about Clinton were plausible to the Repubs because it is what they wanted to believe at the time, too. Same irrationality, just the flip side of that coin.