Presidential Medal of Freedom

[42nd-delay]

Am I the only one who noticed that Bush awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to George Tenet, Paul Bremer and Tommy Franks for their roles as the architects of the Iraq policy? Or perhaps I'm the only one a bit mystified by this?

First off, it might be asked why is the highest civilian award for distinguished civilian service in peacetime going to three people for their service in wartime (or at the very least in a warzone that's no longer offically a war)? Even if it can be contended that Bremer's time in Iraq was after the conflict officially ended, Franks and Bremer certainly served during the war, and Franks in a distinctly non-civilian capacity.

Futhermore, why are these medals being awarded so soon after the events cited as the exemplary service (apparently, the shortest time in the history of the award)? Surely less than two years is not long enough to deem whether something this big has been a success.

But the big question is, of course, why are they getting the award for something that is currently and decidedly not a success? I can only assume it's an effort by the Bush administration to convince the public that it has been a success, the circular logic being... if the three architects of the Iraq policy are Medal of Freedom winners, the policy must have been a success. So let's give them the award!

Either that, or Bush is really deluded about the reality of the situation. Or about what the award is supposed to be awarded for. Or he doesn't care.

An article (http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20041215/ap_on_go_pr_wh/bush_medal_of_freedom_7) about it.

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<img src="http://www.thewalkons.com/bluestates_sig.jpg">

"42nd-delay is the only person who's making sense." - Ron, 3-12-02

[Furtherman]

Bush is certainly clueless about the dire consequesnses he has started, but as for these medals, they are for his "guys".

Bush regards loyalty among like minded individuals as special to him. He wants to reward the folks in his tight-knit circle of yes-men and this is one of the ways how he will do it.

I have no doubt the order came down something like this: "You boys have done a hell of a job. We got Saddam (looks towards picture of Daddy) and soon Iraq will be free. I want to thank ya. How about one of them medals we give out. Make it a big, shiny one that America will oooh and aaah over. (Picks up Saddam's pistol - make shooting noises) Yeee haw... now... what's next on the agenda? Where are my shoes?"

<IMG SRC="http://www.chaoticconcepts.com/randomizer/random.php?uid=7">
...with thanks to JustJon

[HBox]

This day in history, 1994: President Clinton awards Hillary Clinton the Presidential Medal of Freedom for her incredible success implementing Clinton's Health Care plan.

This day in history, 1986: The scientists and engineers at NASA are given the Presidential Medal of Freedom for their incredible success with the Challenger mission.

This day in history 1963: Members of President Kennedy's Secret Service detail are given the Presidential Medal of Freedom for protecting President Kennedy in his ride through Dealey plaza.

And so on and so forth.......

[ADF]

I guess being a friend of W is kind of like being in the Special Olympics.

<center><a href="http://somesuch.org" target="_blank"><img border="0" src="http://www.somesuch.org/sigpics/adfmas.gif"></a><br><br>And that's the end of my show.. donk.</center>

[FMJeff]

you're not the only one...Bush's medals are as significant as his promises to our troops...

whatever, im sick of talking about him. he disgusts me like no man on this earth.

<center><img src="http://thereisnogod.faithweb.com/images/fmjeff.gif">
<br>
It made my heart sing.

[furie]

the metal of freedom isn't just for civilians, military can receive it too. it's just that it's the highest honor a civilian can receive.


<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/furie1335/.Pictures/images/cid_X.gif">

<a href="http://fallingtowardsapotheosis.blogspot.com/">mental vomit</a>

[BigKilla]

These awards, as HBOX had noted, are a lot of "fluff". I'm in the military and it is sickening how some of these awards are passed out like candy. It cheapens those who actually earned them.

[WRESTLINGFAN]

If anybody does not deserve a PMF its George Tenet. He should have been Fired on 9/12/01

[furie]

agreed


<img src="http://homepage.mac.com/furie1335/.Pictures/images/cid_X.gif">

<a href="http://fallingtowardsapotheosis.blogspot.com/">mental vomit</a>

[Snoogans]

i have 4 of these things, they are cool lookin

http://home.comcast.net/~rmfallon/RFnetSnoogs.jpg
http://snoogans194.blogspot.com/
GO SAWX!!!!!
The worst choke job in the history of sports Snoogans 1, Monitor 0

[Recyclerz]

But the big question is, of course, why are they getting the award for something that is currently and decidedly not a success?


I suspect that somebody in this administration has read Catch-22 and either is a fan or misinterpreted it and thinks it was supposed to be a "how-to" book.


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[b]Rooting for the Rapture to happen soon, so I can have my country back.[b]

[A.J.]

Where's mine? I've worked for the Navy longer than these guys held their jobs!

<img src=http://img40.photobucket.com/albums/v124/Canofsoup15/Sigs/AJinDC-Sig.jpg>

A Skidmark/canofsoup15 production.

Red Sox Nation

[LiquidCourage]

Nothing surprises me anymore.

[high fly]

I thought this medal lost it's lustre a long time ago when Rita "the Cheetah" Rivera got one.

" and they ask me why I drink"
http://64.177.177.182/katylina/highflysig.jpg
Big ups to sex bomb baby Katylina (LHOOQ) for the sig!