Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

An Astonishing Continuity: From George W. Bush to Barack Obama

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Book cover The World Disorder

  • 1163 Accesses

Abstract

George W. Bush came to power by targeting the white Christian right, pushing the United States further to the right in the culture war and expanding the racial divide in his country. By the end of his second mandate, his disastrous wars and the glooming economic crisis had eroded all confidence in the Bush administration, however. So the big banks came to realize they could no longer bet on a republican candidate and placed their chips on Barack Obama. His election changed nothing in the disastrous foreign policy of the ignorant George W. Bush, however. Obama failed to see the strategic parity between the United States and Russia and embraced the neoconservative plan for a “New American Century,” courting disaster in Ukraine and Syria.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 89.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Hardcover Book
USD 119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    Chris Hedges, 2006, pp. 22–25.

  2. 2.

    Edwin Lyngar, “Christian right’s rage problem: How white fundamentalists are roiling America. Far-right Christians like Todd Starnes think their nation’s in danger. You won’t believe what they want to do next.” Salon, December 1, 2014. Available at <http://www.salon.com/2014/12/01/far_right_christian_haters_rage_and_cruelty_from_white_fundamentalist_america/?source=newsletter>.

  3. 3.

    Chris Hedges, 2006, pp. 18–19.

  4. 4.

    Jean Hardisty and Chip Berlet, Exporting Right-Wing Christianity. Jean Hardisty. Available at <http://www.jeanhardisty.com/writing/articles-chapters-and-reports/exporting-right-wing-christianity/>.

  5. 5.

    Patrick J. Buchanan, “Address to the Republican National Convention.” Houston, Texas: delivered 17 August 1992. American Rhetoric. Online Speech Bank. Available at <http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/patrickbuchanan1992rnc.htm>; Adam Nagourney, “‘Cultural War’ of 1992 Moves In From the Fringe.” The New York Times, August 29, 2012.

  6. 6.

    Sonya Ross and Jennifer Agiesta, “AP poll: Majority harbor prejudice against blacks.” AP Big Story, October 27, 2012. Available at <http://bigstory.ap.org/article/ap-poll-majority-harbor-prejudice-against-blacks>.

  7. 7.

    “Full Text of Human Rights Record of the United States in 2014.” Web Editor: Yangyang Xinhua, June 26, 2015. Available at <China.org.cn. http://www.china.org.cn/china/Off_the_Wire/2015-06/26/content_35915205.htm>; CRIENGLISH News, June 26, 2015. Available at <http://english.cri.cn/12394/2015/06/26/2982s884702_5.htm>.

  8. 8.

    Ibidem.

  9. 9.

    Drew Desilver, “Who’s poor in America? 50 years into the ‘War on Poverty,’ a data portrait.” Pew Research Center, January 13, 2014. Available at <http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/01/13/whos-poor-in-america-50-years-into-the-war-on-poverty-a-data-portrait/>.

  10. 10.

    Sonya Ross & Jennifer Agiesta, “AP poll: Majority harbor prejudice against blacks.” AP Big Story, October 27, 2012. Available at <http://bigstory.ap.org/article/ap-poll-majority-harbor-prejudice-against-blacks>.

  11. 11.

    Emily Tess katz, “Matt Taibbi: America Has A ‘Profound Hatred Of The Weak And The Poor.’” HuffPost Live, HuffPost Businnes, December 1, 2014. Available at <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/16/matt-taibbi-the-divide_n_5159626.html>.

  12. 12.

    “The Rise of the Sun Belt (p. 197)”. Access to Social Studies. Available at <http://access-socialstudies.cappelendamm.no/c316289/artikkel/vis.html?tid=357420>.

  13. 13.

    Geoffrey C. Layman and Laura S. Hussey, “George W. Bush and the Evangelicals: Religious Commitment and Partisan Change among Evangelical Protestants, 1960–2004.” University of Maryland. This paper originally was prepared for presentation at the University of Notre Dame conference on “A Matter of Faith? Religion in the 2004 Election,” Notre Dame, In, December 2–3, 2005.—Department of Government and Politics, 3140 Tydings Hall, College Park, MD 20742. Ron Faith Suskind, “Certainty and the Presidency ofGeorge W. Bush.” The New York Times—Magazine, October 17, 2004. Available at <http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/17/magazine/17BUSH.html?_r=0>.

  14. 14.

    Ron Suskind, “Faith, Certainty and the Presidency ofGeorge W. Bush.” The New York Times—Magazine, October 17, 2004. Available at <http://www.nytimes.com/2004/10/17/magazine/17BUSH.html?_r=0>.

  15. 15.

    Ewen Macaskill, “Bush: ‘God told me to end the tyranny in Iraq’—President told Palestinians God also talked to him about Middle East peace.” The Guardian, October 7, 2005. Available at <http://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/oct/07/iraq.usa>.

  16. 16.

    Paul Steinhauser (CNN Deputy Political Director). “Poll: More disapprove of Bush than any other president.” CNN Politics.com, May 1, 2008. Available at <http://edition.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/05/01/bush.poll/Updated 0117 GMT (0917 HKT)>.

  17. 17.

    Governance—Presidential Approval Ratings—George W. Bush. Gallup Poll. Available at <http://www.gallup.com/poll/116500/presidential-approval-ratings-george-bush.aspx>; “Overview: Bush and Public Opinion. Reviewing the Bush Years and the Public’s Final Verdict.” Pew Research Center, December 18, 2008. Available at <http://www.people-press.org/2008/12/18/bush-and-public-opinion/#>.

  18. 18.

    “Public Attitudes toward the War in Iraq: 2003–2008.” Pew Research Center, March 19, 2008. Available at <http://www.pewresearch.org/2008/03/19/public-attitudes-toward-the-war-in-iraq-20032008/>.

  19. 19.

    Ibidem.

  20. 20.

    2008 Presidential Election. Center for Responsive Politics—OpenSecrets.org. Available at <https://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/>.

  21. 21.

    Ibidem.

  22. 22.

    Nomi Prins, 2014, pp. 411–413.

  23. 23.

    Rodrigue Tremblay, “Bill Clinton’s ‘Neocon-inspired Decisions’ Triggered Three Major Crises in our Times.” Global Research, August 13, 2014. Available at <http://www.globalresearch.ca/bill-clintons-neocon-inspired-decisions-triggered-three-major-crises-in-our-times/5395715?print=1>.

  24. 24.

    “US responsible for two-thirds of all military conflicts—Russia’s top brass.” RT, November 28, 2014. Available at <http://rt.com/news/209379-us-military-conflicts-antonov/>; Esther Tanquintic-Misa, “2/3 of Global Military Conflicts Instigated by the United States—Russian Minister; Willing To Share with Asian Countries Army Modernization Experience.” International Business Times, November 28, 2014. Available at <http://au.ibtimes.com/articles/574282/20141128/military-conflicts-u-s-russia-asia-army.htm#.VHiV8LR3ucw>.

  25. 25.

    “Remarks by the President at the United States Military Academy Commencement Ceremony.” US Military Academy-West Point, New York. The White House—Office of the Press Secretary, May 28, 2014. Available at <http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/05/28/remarks-president-west-point-academy-commencement-ceremony>.

  26. 26.

    Ibidem.

  27. 27.

    “George Friedman Viewing Russia from the Inside Stratfor—Global Intelligence.” Geopolitical Weekly, December 16, 2014. Available at <https://www.stratfor.com/weekly/viewing-russia-inside#>.

  28. 28.

    Jo Becker and Scott Shane, “Secret ‘Kill List’ Proves a Test ofObama’s Principles and Will.” The New York Times, May 29, 2012.

  29. 29.

    Secret military commandos.

  30. 30.

    “The Administration’s Fiscal Year 2015 Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) Request. The White House—President Barack Obama.” Office of the Press Secretary, June 26, 2014. Available at <http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2014/06/26/fact-sheet-administration-s-fiscal-year-2015-overseas-contingency-operat>.

  31. 31.

    Ibidem.

  32. 32.

    Jonathan Masters, (Deputy Editor). “Targeted Killings.” Council of Foreign Relations, May 23, 2013. Available at <http://www.cfr.org/counterterrorism/targeted-killings/p9627>.

  33. 33.

    Jack Serle and Alice K. Ross, “Monthly Updates on the Covert War—July 2014 Update: US covert actions in Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia.” All Stories, Covert Drone War, Monthly Updates on the Covert War. The Bureau of Investigative Journalism, August 1, 2014. Available at <http://www.thebureauinvestigates.com/2014/08/01/july-2014-update-us-covert-actions-in-pakistan-yemen-and-somalia/>.

  34. 34.

    Michael Hirsh and James Oliphant, “Obama Will Never End the War on Terror—The president stands to leave an open-ended conflict to his successor.” National Journal, February 27, 2014. Available at <http://www.nationaljournal.com/magazine/obama-will-never-end-the-war-on-terror-20140227>.

  35. 35.

    Peter Bergen, “Drone Wars—The Constitutional and Counterterrorism Implications of Targeted Killing”—Testimony presented before the US Senate Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Human Rights. New America Foundation, April 24, 2013. Available at <http://www.newamerica.net/publications/resources/2013/drone_wars>. Daniel L. Byman, “Why Drones Work: The Case for Washington’s Weapon of Choice.” Brookings, July/August 2013. Available at <http://www.brookings.edu/research/articles/2013/06/17-drones-obama-weapon-choice-us-counterterrorism-byman>.

  36. 36.

    Tim Stanley, “Obama has killed thousands with drones, so can the Nobel committee have their Peace Prize back?” The Telegraph, October 10, 2013.

  37. 37.

    Daniel L. Byman, “Why Drones Work: The Case for Washington’s Weapon of Choice.” Brookings, July/August 2013. Available at <http://www.brookings.edu/research/articles/2013/06/17-drones-obama-weapon-choice-us-counterterrorism-byman>.

  38. 38.

    “Remarks by the President in Address to the Nation on Syria East Room.” The White House Office of the Press Secretary For Immediate Release, September 10, 2013. Available at <http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/09/10/remarks-president-address-nation-syria>.

  39. 39.

    Leonam dos Santos Guimarães, (Planning, Management and Environment Director—Eletrobrás Termonuclear SA—Eletronuclear). “O Retorno de Giges à Caverna Nuclear.” DefesaNet, July 10, 2015. Available at <http://www.defesanet.com.br/nuclear/noticia/19703/O-Retorno-de-Giges-a-Caverna-Nuclear/>.

  40. 40.

    Sun Tzu and Sun Pin, 1996, p. 39, e 70.

  41. 41.

    Ibidem.

  42. 42.

    Steven Starr, “The Lethality of Nuclear Weapons: Nuclear War has No Winner.” Global Research—Centre for Research on Globalization, June 5, 2014. Available at <http://www.globalresearch.ca/the-lethality-of-nuclear-weapons-nuclear-war-has-no-winner/5385611>. See also: <http://www.paulcraigroberts.org/2014/05/30/lethality-nuclear-weapons/>. paulcraigroberts.org>. Accessed on May 30, 2014.

  43. 43.

    Siegfried S. Hecker, “For U.S. and Russia, Isolation Can Lead to Nuclear Catastrophe.” The New York Times, Tuesday, November 18, 2014.

  44. 44.

    Ibidem.

  45. 45.

    Status of World Nuclear Forces 2014—Federation of American Scientists. Available at <http://fas.org/issues/nuclear-weapons/status-world-nuclear-forces/>; all numbers are estimates, updated on April 30, 2014, and published in the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists and the nuclear appendix in the SIPRI Yearbook. The numbers are higher than those compiled for the New START Treaty, signed by Russia and the United States on April 2010, since they include the warheads in bombers.

  46. 46.

    William J. Broad and David E. Sanger, “U.S. Ramping Up Major Renewal in Nuclear Arms.” The New York Times, September 21, 2014.

  47. 47.

    Lise Reuter, (Staff Writer). “NNSA completes move to new $687 M manufacturing plant.” Kansas City Business Journal, July 8, 2014. Available at <http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/news/2014/07/08/national-nuclear-security-administration.html?page=all>; Lawrence S. Wittner, “Despite protests Kansas City gets a new nuclear power plant”. LA Progressive—Alex Jones’ Infowars, September 6, 2011. Available at <http://www.infowars.com/despite-protests-kansas-city-gets-a-new-nuclear-power-plant/>.

  48. 48.

    Adam Weinstein, “A Privately Owned Nuclear Weapons Plant in… Kansas City? In a last-ditch court hearing, activists seek to block a new Honeywell project,” Mother Jones, 29 de agosto de 2011. Available at <http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2011/08/nuclear-weapons-plant-kansas-city>.

  49. 49.

    William J. Broad and David E. Sanger, “U.S. Ramping Up Major Renewal in Nuclear Arms.” The New York Times, September 21, 2014.

  50. 50.

    Henry Kissinger, 1995, p. 607.

  51. 51.

    Henry Kissinger, 2014, p. 336.

  52. 52.

    Zbigniew Brzezinski, 1997, p. 97.

  53. 53.

    Ronald Reagan, 1991, p. 550.

  54. 54.

    Ibidem, p. 550.

  55. 55.

    Patrick E. Tyler, (Special to The New York Times). “U.S. Strategy Plan Calls for Insuring No Rivals Develop A One-Superpower World—Pentagon’s Document Outlines Ways to Thwart Challenges to Primacy of America,” The New York Times, March 8, 1992. Available at <http://work.colum.edu/~amiller/wolfowitz1992.htm>.

  56. 56.

    The original project, titled—Rebuilding America’s Defenses Strategy, Forces and Resources For a New Century—A Report of The Project for the New American Century (PNAC), September 2000, was based on the following principles: “1—We need to increase defense spending significantly if we are to carry out our global responsibilities today and modernize our armed forces for the future; 2—we need to strengthen our ties to democratic allies and to challenge regimes hostile to our interests and values; 3—we need to promote the cause of political and economic freedom abroad; 4—we need to accept responsibility for America’s unique role in preserving and extending an international order friendly to our security, our prosperity, and our principles.”

  57. 57.

    Colin L. Powell, The Military Strategy of the United States—1991–1992. Washington: US Government, Printing Office, ISBN 0–16–036125-7, 1992, p. 7. Draft Resolution—12 Cooperation for Security in the Hemisphere, Regional Contribution to Global Security—The General Assembly, recalling: Resolutions AG/RES. 1121 (XXX-091 and AG/RES. 1123 (XXI-091) for strengthening of peace and security in the hemisphere, and AG/RES. 1062 (XX090) against clandestine arms traffic.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Emeritus professor for History, University of Brasília, St. Leon-Rot, Germany

    Luiz Alberto Moniz Bandeira

Authors
  1. Luiz Alberto Moniz Bandeira
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2019 Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Moniz Bandeira, L.A. (2019). An Astonishing Continuity: From George W. Bush to Barack Obama. In: The World Disorder. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-03204-3_5

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation