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Sitting Bull vs Bull Sitting

One hundred-and-twenty-eight years ago during the spirited election campaign of 1876, one candidate eliminated himself, not by a primary or a convention, or a debate in Florida, but by a foolish act of arrogance and stubbornness in, of all places, South Dakota.

And when I say eliminated, I mean eliminated.  His name was also George- -George Armstrong Custer.  He stuck foolishly to his “stay the course” policy, despite the reality on the ground, to the point where he became responsible for hundreds of needless deaths, including his own, and failed his mission so badly that fifty years after the fact the matter was still in court, and one hundred years later the effects were still being felt.  He had underestimated his opponent’s strength and commitment to purpose, and his (Sitting-) Bull-headedness had cost the country the ability to have a trusting relationship with its indigenous peoples.

The other night in Coral Gables, Florida, a similar stubborn and arrogant leader, Republican President George W Bush, went through the motions of a “debate”- -in reality dueling political speeches- -with his opponent, Democratic Senator John F Kerry.  President Bush’s “stay the course” policy despite the reality on the ground is just as out of touch with the situation in Iraq as was General Custer’s when he said “Indians?  What Indians?” 

Jim Lehrer: “General Custer, you were court martialed for being AWOL earlier in your career.  You have made some pretty rash judgements at times according to those familiar with your work.  What makes you co certain that you can win this one?”

Custer: “The American people know I know how to lead.  I've shown the American people I know how to lead.  I have -- I understand everybody in this country doesn't agree with the decisions I've made.  And I made some tough decisions.  But people know where I stand.  People out there listening know what I believe.  And that's how best it is to keep the peace.  This nation of ours has got a solemn duty to defeat this ideology of hate.  And that's what they are. This is a group of killers who will not only kill here, but kill children hoping to shake our will.  We have a duty to defeat this enemy.  We have a duty to protect our children and grandchildren.  The best way to defeat them is to never waver, to be strong, to use every asset at our disposal, is to constantly stay on the offensive and, at the same time, spread liberty.”

Jim Lehrer:  “But sir, there have been colossal misjudgments.  I regret to say, a colossal error of judgment, and judgment is what we look for in a president of the United States.”

Custer:  “My opponent looked at the same intelligence I looked at.  Unfortunately for me, he actually read it, I just looked at it.  It was confusing- -memos, documents, meetings- -it was a lot of work.  Hard work.  Incredibly hard.  Hard to understand.  Tiring. Real work.”

Jim Lehrer: “But General, you not only have this present campaign, but insurgents in other places as well.  Can you handle this situation and whatever else might arise?”
Custer: “Jim, we've got the capability of doing both.  As a matter of fact, this is a global effort.  We're facing a group of folks who have such hatred in their heart, they'll strike anywhere, with any means.  And that's why it's essential that we have strong alliances, and we do.  That's why it's essential that we make sure that we keep weapons of mass destruction out of the hands of other people, which we are.  But to say that there's only one focus on the war on terror doesn't really understand the nature of the war on terror.”

Jim Lehrer:  “ ‘Group of folks’?  Sounds like you’re having them over for a quilting bee.”

Custer:  “My opponent says help is on the way, but what kind of message does it say to our troops in harm's way, "wrong war, wrong place, wrong time"? Not a message a commander in chief gives, or this is a ‘great diversion.’  As well, help is on the way, but it's certainly hard to tell.  Not what a commander in chief does when you're trying to lead troops.”

Jim Lehrer:  “But pardon me sir, you haven’t actually ever led troops, now have you?  I mean, not actually?  Don’t you usually stay behind and order young men to the front to do the actual fighting?  It wouldn’t be safe any other way, would it, sir?”

Custer:  “That’s not the point.  I was hoping diplomacy would work. I understand the serious consequences of committing our troops into harm's way.  It's the hardest decision a president makes. So I went to the United Nations. I didn't need anybody to tell me to go to the United Nations. I decided to go there myself.  I got a map and everything.  And I went there hoping that, once and for all, the free world would act in concert to get them to listen to our demands. They passed the resolution that said, ‘Disclose, disarm, or face serious consequences.’ I believe, when an international body speaks, it must mean what it says.  He had no intention of disarming.  Why should he?  He had 16 other resolutions and nothing took place.  As a matter of fact, my opponent talks about inspectors.  The facts are that he was systematically deceiving the inspectors.

Jim Lehrer:  “Well, sir, it is pretty inconceivable that your plan is going to work.  We are going to end up with hundreds and hundreds of casualties and all for what?  What will it accomplish?  Freedom?  Liberty?  Justice for all?   These people have to want these things themselves.  We can’t just force it on them.  I think mostly they want us gone.  We can’t make them want something they don’t really want, can we?”
Custer: “It's hard work. But, again, I want to tell the American people, we're doing everything we can at home, but you better have a president who chases these terrorists down and bring them to justice before they hurt us again.”

Jim Lehrer:  “Okay, General, we’ll try it your way and see how it turns out.”