Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, 9/11, and Iraq

It is imperative that every caring and concerned United States citizen read about and watch “The Dark Side,” an hour-long documentary done by PBS’s award-winning Frontline. Originally aired on June 20, 2006, “The Dark Side” delves into the immediate aftermath of 9/11, and the White House’s response to the tragedy. This is not another conspiracy theory “documentary,” but an actual report done by professional journalists.

Much of America and the world regard Bush and his administration as a blemish in history, incompetent, or downright evil. It is important that, whatever one’s political views are, they be based on facts and true information, not just on the latest overblown news story or political misinformation.

Today, much of the negative publicity surrounding President Bush is focused on the wrong person or persons. Without excusing the mistakes that he has made, President Bush’s current legacy of misjudgment and failure (as he is viewed by most) is unfairly attributed to him alone.

Upon election in 2000, Mr. Bush found himself an inexperienced and uneducated President and a Commander in Chief of the world’s most powerful nation. Wisely, he surrounded himself with political, military, strategy, and intelligence heavy-weights, such as Dick Cheney, Donald Rumsfeld, and Colon Powel (all hardened veterans of past administrations).

Going in, Bush’s cabinet appeared powerful and experienced. What resulted from it, however, were world-changing decisions that stemmed from power struggles, distrust, over-confidence, and interpersonal communications meltdowns.

Is it surprising to know that Dick Cheney is the most powerful vice-president in American history? Or that while serving for 10 years in congress, Cheney dealt heavily in “Intelligence Maters” (as in the CIA)? Perhaps most surprising is the fact that Bush originally relied on George Tenet’s and Colon Powel’s advice to enter Afghanistan, and was later convinced by Cheney and Rumsfeld (who were desperately grasping for power) to enter Iraq.

Through Frontline’s documentary, it becomes clear that the events of the past seven years are events that occur when an inexperienced person is placed in a position of great power, and listens to only those closest to him.

Perhaps the Bush administration means well, and through all its secrecy, mistakes, and apparent “aloofness” to world opinion, is simply a victim of seemingly good decisions that went bad.

Contained in the Frontline show are interviews, facts, and quotes that can be chilling, infuriating, and damning. Although the perception of the Bush administration as a whole may not change, after viewing “The Dark Side” it is almost guaranteed that the blame resting on Mr. Bush will shift to others in the Executive branch.

Each and every person needs to watch “The Dark Side” to understand the actual events of post-9/11 America, and the real story behind the war in Iraq.

Watch Frontline’s The Dark Side on PBS.com now.