Editor,
This is in response to President Bush's "we're at war" speech aimed at Congress a few days ago.
President Bush's obsession with his search for his ladylove "Dulce Iraqueña Aceitosa" under the guise of fighting terrorism, including the illusive Osama bin Laden and his al-Qaida terrorists, is similar to that of Alonso Quixano de la Mancha and his fight against "ferocious giants" - the illusive windmills - under the guise of searching for his ladylove Dulcinea del Toboso.
Like Quixano - who changed his name to Don Quixote de la Mancha, donned an old suit of armor, improvised a makeshift helmet, mounted his skinny horse, Rocinante, and went off on his quest with his squire Sancho Panza - Bush changed his name to King George of America, donned an old military jumpsuit, mounted his super-power military horse Democracia and went off on his quest with his chief squire Dick Cheney.
Don Quixote's quest was actually real, though it was based on his fantasy after he lost his mind due to lack of sleep and food, along with his obsession with books of chivalry. Although he was not in his right mind, his quest did result in collateral damage wherever he went. Of course, Don Quixote's imaginings and actions were made the butt of jokes to the point that even Sancho Panza was unintentionally forced to deceive him. Unfortunately, Don Quixote wound up disillusioned upon his return to sanity, at which point he renounced chivalry and subsequently died.
On the other hand, while Bush's quest is also real, it is based on deception - unjustified invasion of Iraq under the guise of fighting terrorism using unsound and manipulated military intelligence - when it was actually based on his obsessive desire for that crude oil: Dulce Iraqueña Aceitosa.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
Although he gives the appearance of being in his right mind, his quest has resulted in extensive and costly collateral damage wherever his quest has led him - thousands of Iraqi civilians and soldiers killed, demolition of the Iraqi infrastructure, more than 3,500 American soldiers killed and thousands maimed, usurpation of authority from the legislative and judiciary branches, extensive deterioration of our foreign relationships and so forth.
And yet, to date, Osama bin Laden and the al-Qaida terrorist organization remain alive and still functioning while we now find ourselves embroiled in a never-ending Iraqi conflict. His obsessive quest and related actions have been made the butt of national and world jokes to the point that even his chief esquire has retreated into the
background.
Like Don Quixote, I am certain that he will also be disillusioned with his actions after all the dust settles, and he can clearly see the consequences of his obsessive quest.
I predict that history will not and should not be kind to this president for his dictatorial and deceptive conduct while holding the highest office this country has to offer. And neither should history be kind to this Congress and our judicial system for allowing themselves to be manipulated by the Executive Branch - the Bush administration.
Nahum Castillo
Daily Lobo reader
