If I were Bush

A thin majority of Americans oppose the Immigration Bill. A great majority favor the end of the Iraq invasion. Our Dear President has a great, and unique opportunity to enhance his legacy. Probably his last chance to finally do something positive for our country.

First, if I were George Bush, I would order Dick Cheney to go abroad, for a full week. Any justification will be good. Nobody is listening to him anyhow, but FOX News.

As soon as Cheney is out of the country, I would call both party leaders in Senate and in House, and offer them the following proposals:

1- you (Congress and Senate) make sure that the Immigration Bill is passed
2- I promise the most secure border with Mexico for generations to come
3- I withdraw 50% of our troops in Iraq by September
4- I recall the other 50% by next January.

There is no use to solve the present problem with 12 million (?) illegal immigrants, if, in five or ten years, we still have another 12 or 15 million more illegal permanent visitors.

There are better, and cheaper ways to protect our border with Mexico, which covers 1,951 miles, than to erect a wall, over a period of years (no one can tell the total cost and the exact number of years).

We know, or should know, (because the real world does), that our presence in Iraq has contributed to the cloning of hundreds and hundreds of Al-Qaeda groups and supporters. Perhaps, we should clone another Saddam for taking control of Iraq.

Like it or not, there were three main sects for centuries (we should have known that before), they are still there today, they will still be there tomorrow...unless, we assist to a total genocide of one group.

There are two theories:

i- our presence in Iraq contributes to develop more enemies at a faster tempo that we succeed (or fail) to eliminate them;

ii- if we leave, we will assist to a civil war (too late, already in force), or a greater chaos (already worse than the Saddam's regime).

A large segment of the population in Iraq would like us to leave, including important groups in the present Government. As well, if we leave, the stability in Iraq becomes Iran’s problem.

We can leave now while saving face, regaining some credibility, and respect from the rest of the world. Let's see, first, the benefits in leaving Iraq.

We could use our 147,000 soldiers to secure the 1,951 miles with Mexico. Imagine, we do not need a fence anymore. One soldier every 210 feet, with three shifts per day. We could save billions by not having to ship equipment overseas. We could create thousands of new jobs here, in United States, by not outsourcing billions and billions of dollars in food, shopping, fuel, repairs, and various articles. This should definitely pleases Mr. Lou Dobbs of CNN: less outsourcing and a soldier every 210 feet for a more secure (and humane) border.

Not only we could save $1.2 billion by not erecting the fence, but also, much more by decreasing the need of electronic equipment and high-tech TV cameras. Our soldiers could be on the front line with the assistance of our border patrol as back-up or second levee, in case there is a breach on the front line.

We could also use the thousands of trailers paid for Katrina, presently sleeping in the middle of nowhere, for assisting our troops. Who said that the aftermath of Katrina was poorly planned?

A United Front: the army, the reserve, the national guard, the border patrol....How better can we show the world that we are United..... After all, we are the United States of America....standing on guard, protecting our Mexican border, from Pacific Ocean to Gulf of Mexico.

Additional benefits: it will be much easier to recruit new volunteers....less pressure tactics....Who would not like to serve our country in guarding our border against illegal immigrants or potential terrorists.

It is becoming harder and harder to fight the enemies abroad, instead of having to fight them at home. The problem: abroad becomes, more and more, a broader abroad, much longer and larger than 1,951 miles. It should be easier to stop the terrorists at our door.

We should remember that the actors of 9/11 were from inside. We will never succeed to stop the thinking of outsiders.

Father Haliburton will be mad, with such a scenario. This is the reason I would send him away for a week. He will not disturb a sane conversation. If we want to promote democracy, we must show, and proof, that the will of the many, prevails over the will of the few.

With such a scenario, I, George Bush, am confident that Historians will remember how I saved $100 billion per year, installed a more secure America, and created thousands and thousands of new jobs, at home.

If I were Bush……oops, I just wake up. I had a dream.
The Facilitator