"Money Trumps Peace Sometimes"

Say, what, George Bush? In yesterday's press conference he actually admitted that his war machine operates to feed industry: the military-industrial complex of which Dwight D. Eisenhower warned us to beware. Both Air America Radio's Randi Rhodes and Rachel Maddow were stressing Bush's frank, albeit sighing, admission. If you can get podcast copies of their 02/15/07 shows, listen to them. I'm going to add those podcasts to my AAR to-keep file.

Both Randi and Rachel were putting stronger emphasis on New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson's presidential candidacy. Since John Edwards campaign has failed to get back to my email and voice message on the Iran question, perhaps I should explore Bill Richardson more. We can't keep having money trumping peace, either from Republicans or Democrats. Ike was right.

I just googled for the print reference:

Q: A lot of our allies in Europe do a lot of business with Iran. So I wonder what your thoughts are about how you further tighten the financial pressure on Iran, in particular, if it also means economic pain for a lot of our allies.

BUSH: It's an interesting question. One of the problems, not specifically on this issue, just in general, that -- let's put it this way: Money trumps peace, sometimes.

In other words, commercial interests are very powerful interests throughout the world. And part of the issue in convincing people to put sanctions on a specific country is to convince them that it's in the world's interest that they forego their own financial interest.

And that's why sometimes it's tough to get tough economic sanctions on countries, and I'm not making any comment about any particular country, but you touched on a very interesting point.

My God, Bush does speak the truth sometimes, his truth anyway.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Gold Star mother Cindy Sheehan wrote a wonderful response to Bush's comment. Read it, please.

Peace hugs,
Kate Anne