Let’s see.

Donald Rumsfeld: “Well, the Office of Management and Budget [run by Bush appointees] , has come up come up with a number that’s something under $50 billion for the cost [of the war in Iraq].” Congress has already approved four spending bills for Iraq with funds totaling $204.4 billion. Some total cost estimates top $1 trillion.

Dick Cheney: “The read we get on the people of Iraq is there is no question but what they want to the get rid of Saddam Hussein and they will welcome as liberators the United States when we come to do that. ” More than 2,000 American military personnel have been killed since President Bush’s “Mission Accomplished” speech.

George Bush 2000: “I would be very careful about using our troops as nation builders.” George Bush 2005:”Rebuilding Iraq will require a sustained commitment from many nations, including our own: we will remain in Iraq as long as necessary, and not a day more.”

George Bush 2000: “Morale in today’s military is too low. We’re having trouble meeting recruiting goals.” In the 2005 fiscal year that ended in September, the army fell 8 per cent shy of its recruiting mission for 80,000 active-duty enlistments, a shortfall of 6,627 bodies. Recruiting for the army reserve was 12.5 per cent, or 2,775 enlistees, below target. (More)

I know there are people who will never, repeat never, admit any failings in George Bush, but this is a form of delusion happily confined to a dwindling few.

The rest of us are coming to see Iraq as an indication of the utter fecklessness and foolishness of George W. Bush and his political allies. The carelessness and wishful thinking of the Iraq misadventure can be found in fiscal policy, health policy, educational policy, environmental policy, trade policy, and foreign affairs.

History will harshly judge this Administration.