George Bush’S Great America [EN]: Chapter 116

< Chapter 115 >

“Doesn’t time fly?”

“If you feel time is passing quickly, perhaps you could also increase the speed at which you review reports.”

“Why do you always have to take things to the extreme? As you said, I’m making an effort to be polite and use pleasant language these days.”

Bush pointed to the TV set up in a corner of his office, as if showing off. The TV displayed Bush giving a speech, his already muscular physique enhanced by his attire, projecting a considerable sense of intimidation even through the screen.

「We will dismember the terrorists and achieve world peace! Everyone!」

It was truly reassuring to hear such words from a man who seemed ready to rush to the Middle East and other terrorist-ridden areas himself, not just to dispatch troops, but to personally tear the enemy in half, declaring, ‘I have come for peace and protection!’

“I asked you to use correct and refined language, but instead, you’re twisting words and being sarcastic.”

“I’m not exactly saying anything wrong, am I? How could I possibly be more correct and refined than that?”

Neither Bush nor his Chief of Staff were technically wrong. It was more of a ‘difference in perspective.’ Bush felt it was necessary to use the strongest and most vivid language when addressing terrorism, while the Chief of Staff preferred adherence to formalities and regulations in all circumstances.

In any case, the position of Chief of Staff, held by Andrew Card, was not just about blind loyalty and flattery. It was meant to catch the corruption and deviations that Bush himself might not recognize, so he was fulfilling his duty.

“You need to be more proactive. The coming era will be one of upheaval.”

There were times when the Chief of Staff worried that Bush was forgetting the reason he had been appointed, but at crucial moments, he still made reasonably sound judgments, so he didn’t criticize him too much. However, the problem was that these choices were only rational within the small universe of George W. Bush.

The Chief of Staff could understand his way of thinking and exclaim, ‘Wow! That’s completely rational!’ but for a third party to understand it, they would have to redefine the word ‘rational’ and engage in philosophical contemplation.

That’s not to say that Bush’s inner world was truly irrational. It was just that everyone had slightly different standards. How could the rationality of a crow-tit be the same as that of a stork? A sparrow has to flap its wings busily to fly, but a roc [a mythical giant bird] soars ninety thousand miles into the sky with a single flap.

“Whether it’s an era of upheaval or not, the position of President is not meant for that.”

Ultimately, the President’s role is to stand at the highest point while keeping his gaze on the lowest. Therefore, in terms of what is right, the Chief of Staff’s words were the correct ones.

“But these outdated methods are not resonating in this era. Times are changing, Chief of Staff.”

However, if you control the flow of the era itself, the story changes. If the politics pursued by the Chief of Staff were like steel, unyielding to any impact, the politics pursued by Bush were like rubber, capable of absorbing any impact.

“I agree that times are changing, but…”

“Then can you tell me how they are changing?”

The Chief of Staff seemed to ponder for a moment, then pulled out a thick report from the skyscraper of documents and placed it on the desk. It was quite thick, so placing the report on the desk could have made a loud noise, but he was so meticulous that not even a small sound was heard.

“Well, it was a report that was going to be submitted soon anyway.”

The words ‘The Rise of Isolationism’ on the first line of the first page of the report grated on Bush’s nerves.

“Isolationism? Are you talking about the Monroe Doctrine?”

Why was a relic from the 19th century suddenly appearing now? The Monroe Doctrine was the isolationism that had dominated America for almost a century. The United States would not interfere in Europe, and Europe should not interfere in the United States. In reality, it was another name for expansionism, aimed at keeping the entire American continent safe and intact in the hands of the United States, but it was still considered isolationism.

This Monroe Doctrine was briefly obscured when German Foreign Minister Arthur Zimmermann of the German Empire triggered the Zimmermann Telegram incident, and it completely disappeared when the attack on Pearl Harbor in World War II led the United States to reverse its course to interventionism.

“No, it’s different from the Monroe Doctrine. It’s about why we keep trying to ‘expand our influence’ abroad when everything can run perfectly well with just our own resources within the United States, without outside help or support. It’s criticizing the current hegemony. If we had to give it a name, it would be Neo-Isolationism.”

In short, it was a call to not shed American blood unnecessarily by intervening in international affairs. Now, there was plenty of money and leeway to spare, but it was doubtful whether the current level of intervention could be maintained even after that leeway disappeared. Therefore, the idea was that it would be more efficient to invest the budget for foreign intervention in domestic affairs to improve the quality of life.

It resembled the Neo-Isolationism that Bush knew, which had emerged after the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, but the ideology was clearly different. If the Neo-Isolationism that Bush knew was a complex combination of 염전 [salt farm; a Korean expression for a situation where someone is exploited or suffers greatly] ideology that had continued since the Cold War and the America First policy that had been neglected due to the protection of the First World, this was an ideology born entirely from abundance and leeway, aimed at preparing for the future.

“Not a bad idea. But it’s something the Democrats would like.”

“That’s right. It’s something the Republicans would dislike. Above all, it’s still a minority opinion. But there are also ideas that Republicans would like. It’s the view that we should stop indiscriminate intervention based on existing ideologies and intervene according to our interests. In other words, it’s about doing wars for money, not for protecting ideologies like in the Vietnam War.”

The Chief of Staff said that, rubbing his fingers together as if counting dollars. Was this the extreme of American plutocracy? There were quite a few people like this even in 2019. In fact, rather than ‘quite a few,’ people with this view accounted for more than a third of the United States.

“Not really anything to touch.”

“That’s right. If you really want to use it practically, it’s information that can only be used during election season. It’s just general statistics, so it doesn’t have much value.”

From the beginning, this ideology was all a testament to the fact that the great ship called America was sailing smoothly. Bush seemed to know what the Chief of Staff wanted to say with this report. Now that his popularity was soaring, there would be no problem with any of his statements, but if he made even a small mistake, he would be criticized. If things went wrong, Bush’s provocative actions would turn into a fatal blow.

No matter how elastic it is, rubber will be cut if stabbed with a knife. So, the Chief of Staff’s unspoken message was that it would be better to be steel that is unharmed even when stabbed with a knife.

“To put it bluntly, I don’t want to do politics that way, even if it means I’ll fall later.”

“Those are exactly the kinds of remarks that are the problem!”

The Chief of Staff pounded his chest as if frustrated.

“It’s okay, even if I collapse, I’ll embrace it and fall alone. Don’t worry.”

“No, I’m a person too, would I feel good if the person I serve collapses?”

Bush was slightly taken aback by those words. It was a problem he had never even considered.

“I hadn’t thought of that. I’ll try to be more careful.”

“Good. Please be more mindful in the future.”

It might seem childish for grown men to be acting like this, but it was necessary.

‘But that doesn’t mean I won’t do it when necessary.’

‘He’ll probably keep doing it even after saying this, right? I’ll make him sit at his desk and look at reports for the rest of his term so he can’t do anything reckless.’

But it seemed like it would all be for naught.

“Anyway…”

Bush scanned the reports scattered haphazardly on his desk and focused on a report about small-scale terrorist attacks occurring in Europe.

“Looking at this, I’m convinced. I need more reliable self-defense.”

“Mr. President, we cannot increase security personnel or budget here. The current level of security at the White House is already the highest in history.”

After the 9/11 attacks, even anti-aircraft missiles were deployed at the White House. However, that didn’t mean they were deployed directly at the White House itself, but rather that a large number of anti-aircraft missiles were allocated to the airspace of Washington DC and the White House.

“What I mean by self-defense is to completely eliminate the possibility of a threat occurring itself.”

“So, are you thinking of expelling all Middle Easterners from the country?”

“How can you say such a thing? That’s prejudice! That’s racism!”

“That’s because the perpetrators were Middle Eastern terrorists until just now.”

The Chief of Staff clicked his tongue, saying, ‘Here he goes again.’ It was a somewhat presumptuous attitude that would have been absolutely unimaginable in the early Bush administration.

“Then what are you planning to do?”

“I told you, eliminating the root cause is true self-defense. I need to get involved in the Middle East.”

“In the Middle East? Europe is already doing its best, do we really need to get involved too? I don’t agree with Neo-Isolationism, but wouldn’t it be better to boost domestic demand instead?”

“Don’t worry. Even if I get involved, it won’t consume much of our administrative power.”

It was impossible to know what kind of idea he had, but it was very welcome news. At least, no one would oppose it if the United States didn’t have to do the work themselves. However, it was Bush, of all people, saying that it was a method that wouldn’t cost any money, so it wasn’t very convincing.

“Are you thinking of engaging in slander and intrigue?”

“Haha! If I did that, the terrorists might launch a bomb attack on the White House tomorrow!”

“Then what exactly are you going to do? You’re so direct when you’re giving a speech, but why do you only beat around the bush when you’re talking to me? Stop teasing me and tell me. I have so many reports piled up behind me that the President hasn’t read yet.”

Bush frowned at those words. He had spoken at length, but in the end, it was just a way of telling him to look at more reports. Actually, he had been beating around the bush to take a short break, but his dear Chief of Staff didn’t seem to allow it.

“It’s nothing much, I’m just thinking of growing Afghanistan a bit.”

“Afghanistan, you say?”