George W. Bush

We're Living in the World (un)Made by the Iraq War

Three New Yorker writers look at the impact of the Iraq invasion, from the rise of Trump to the collapse of public trust in experts and authority. 

Aside from Bush and Cheney, Who's Most Responsible for Iraq?

Historians, journalists, and international relations scholars assess whether lesser-known figures in government, media and intelligence deserve more blame for the Iraq invasion. 

20 Years Later, a Massive Effort to Forget the Runup to Iraq Invasion

by Stephen Wertheim

The impulse for American leaders to forget about Iraq and move on reveals the pathologies of American primacy in world affairs. 

The Iraq Invasion Turns 20

Historians comment on the consequences of the invasion and efforts to control the narrative about how and why the US invaded. 

America Broke Iraq, and Itself

by Thanassis Cambanis

"The U.S. occupation of Iraq normalized torture, impunity, manipulation of intelligence, and a new level of official mendacity."

Iraq War at 20: What the Neocons Got Wrong

by Max Boot

"I desperately wanted to believe that spreading freedom could solve the security dilemmas confronting the United States—that by doing good in the world, it could also serve its national security interests."

20 Years After Iraq Invasion, Need for Dissenting Perspectives is Clear

by Matthew Duss

A left foreign policy analyst argues that labeling opposition to Ukraine's NATO membership as "pro-Putin" echoes the worst moves of the runup to the Iraq war, and that good policy grows from open discussion. 

Why We Went to War on Iraq

by Melvyn P. Leffler`

One foreign policy historian argues that the decision to invade Iraq was made out of genuine concern for thwarting attacks on Americans and preserving the United States' ability to use military power in the Middle East. 

After 9/11, the U.S. Got Almost Everything Wrong

by Garrett M. Graff

"The events of September 11, 2001, became the hinge on which all of recent American history would turn, rewriting global alliances, reorganizing the U.S. government, and even changing the feel of daily life."

What Liberal Comparisons between Bush-Cheney and Trump Get Wrong

by Joseph Stieb

Liberal critics of Liz Cheney have suggested she's a hypocrite, blasting Trump's "Big Lie" while having championed the deceptions that led to the Iraq War. This is an imperfect comparison, which ignores the real lessons of Iraq – that fixing the fact-finding process to fit a policy is a common and continuing danger. 

Is History Ready to Judge the Trump Presidency?

by Samuel (Shenger) Zhou

Understandings of presidential success and failure might have to be revised for Donald Trump; while Trump failed to win reelection, his media tactics will allow him, unlike the previous Republican president George W. Bush, to retain control of his party and remain a national force even out of office. Is this the future of the presidency?

When Did America Stop Being Great?

by Nick Bryant

Nick Bryant began observing America as a 16 year old at the patriotic spectacle of the 1984 Olympics. His book traces the path from "Morning in America" to "American Carnage," fixing some blame but also seeking a way through. 

Twenty Years Ago, Rioters Tried to Stop a Presidential Vote Count – and Succeeded

by Robert Brent Toplin

On November 22, 2000 a mob succeeded in deciding a presidential election. 

The End of the Businessman President

by Kyle Edward Williams

Will Donald Trump's response to the coronavirus pandemic mark the end of the pernicious myths that the popular good is served by running government like a business, or that business executives have a talent for governing? 

The Night the Supreme Court Settled a Presidential Election, Declaring George W. Bush the Winner

On the day the Supreme Court's Bush v. Gore ruling was released, it was not immediately clear that it made George W. Bush the president-elect. 

A Kick in the Leg: The Secret, Corrupt Political History of the Nobel Peace Prize

by Unni Turrettini

The Nobel Prize Commiteee has departed from Alfred Nobel's wishes to honor the cause of global demilitarization and disarmament in favor of statements of political favor in the awarding of the Peace Prize. 

The Historical Case for George W. Bush Endorsing Joe Biden

by Louis P. Masur

Hamilton demonstrated in 1800 something that matters today: being retired from politics isn’t the same as being retired from citizenship.

Are We Ready to Rehabilitate George W. Bush’s Reputation?

by Andrew R. Graybill

The presidency of Donald Trump has allowed supporters of George W. Bush to push for a reevaluation of a man who left office with historically high unfavorability ratings. A SMU professor digs into recent books by way of evaluating whether Dubya will get a raw deal from history.

The Bush-Gore Recount Is an Omen for 2020

An oral history of the craziest presidential election in modern history.

Democrats May Beat Trump in November and Still not Learn the Most Important Lesson from his Presidency

by Daniel Bessner

Democrats must not just defeat Trump; they must commit to fighting a culture of elite impunity that has enabled the rise of Trump and an unaccountable Republican Party.