Fall of the House of Bush--A Book Review

For example, Bush deliberately did the opposite of what his father would do, said Unger, and he rejected most of his father’s advisers.  He did, however, accept Colin Powell, as Secretary of State but that was only to trot out the distinguished general’s good name for the 2000 and 2004 elections.  Bush rarely consulted Powell and then had him dumped in 2005 after Powell sold his soul for his president in February 2003 when he delivered his United Nations speech that “justified” a war with Iraq. 

On September 11 the stars seemed to align themselves in extraordinary ways.  Bush got his wish to be the commander-in-chief he had envisioned the presidency to be.  The Neoconservatives found the cataclysmic event that could kick off their quest to re-make the Middle East.  Fundamentalist Christians could get on with realizing their Apocalyptic visions and the Second Coming of Christ.

However, some things were not exactly copasetic.

Bush’s competence as a leader was questionable, especially on foreign affairs.  As vice president, the ever-able Dick Cheney took charge of operations and he not only advised Bush but directed the president’s foreign policy outright. 

Cheney served as the “sole framer of key issues for Bush,” said Unger.  He likewise ignored all interagency systems and functions and stuck to the Neoconservatives’ empire-building playbook.  As a result, Cheney got Bush to commit the United States to two wars in the Middle East while he threatens a third with Iran. 

Unger’s book reads like a Shakespearean tragedy.  Readers know what is going to happen while Unger’s purpose is to reveal how things happened.  The cast of characters is numerous—and seen on TV nearly every day as Bush administration representatives. 

This book is extremely well-written and an intriguing eye-opener to the shadow government of Vice President Cheney.  It also unveils the motivations of the Neocons and Christian Fundamentalists that allows readers to understand how they are threatening our democracy.

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