But the hyperthyroid Bush was unwilling to brook criticism. In best bullying style, he
came to a meeting with Congressional leaders on November 14 with a sheaf of articles
from Iraqi newspapers reporting, among other things, Moynihan's speech of a few days
before. Even Republican Richard Lugar was targetted by Bush's ire. Bush whined that
such statements were giving Saddam reasons to doubt US resolve. On November 16, the
National Council of Churches condemned Bush's Gulf policy, citing "reckless rhetoric,"
"imprudent behavior," and the precipitous military buildup.
James Baker, groping for reasons for the coming war, thought he had found one: "If you
want to sum it up in one word, it's jobs. Because an economic recession, worldwide,
caused by the control of one nation, one dictator, of the West's economic lifeline will
result in the loss of jobs on the part of American citizens." [fn 65] Many citizens were
offended by Baker's patronizing condescension, which was coordinated with Bush's
remarks of the same day in which he admitted that the country was in a "downturn," and
hinted that the depth of any recession would depend on whether or not the Gulf crisis
turned into a prolonged standoff. If recession were to come, said Bush, "it will not be
deep and we will come out of it relatively soon- six months at most." [fn 66]
Commenting on what really concerned him, Bush commented, "holding public opinion
forever is very difficult to do." Bush was not even succeeding in the short term:
Pennsylvania Democratic Chairman Larry Yatch told reporters that support for Bush's
Gulf policy was "at the teetering point-- the people are really becoming skeptical." His
Louisiana counterpart, James J. Brady, noted that Bush " has not given them answers to
their questions." "Jobs are not the reason we are there," he added. [fn 67]
In the House of Representatives, a group of 45 House Democrats went to federal court in
a vain attempt to stop Bush from initating hostilities, and Rep. Gonzalez of Texas, the
honorable maverick, offered a bill of impeachment against Bush.
On November 16, Bush left on a multi-country blitz of Europe and the Middle East which
was intended to shore up the anti-Iraq coalition until the buildup could be completed and
the war unleashed. In Prague, Bush was lionized by large crowds; President Havel gave
Bush a testimonial of support about the lessons of Munich 1938 and appeasement that
Bush would wave around all through the war. It was unfortunate that freedom from
communist tyranny for some politicians seemed to mean the freedom to lick Bush's
boots. In Speyer, Germany, Bush had another apoplectic moment when Catholic Bishop
Anton Schlembach wished Bush success "but without war and bloodshed." Bush sat red-
faced like a roasted cherub. Germans were not happy about Bush's extortion of their
country when they needed money to rebuild the newly freed federal states in the east;
Germany was now reunified. Bush had a strained meeting with Kohl, and, at the CSCE
finale in Paris, a cordial one with Mitterrand, with whom his rapport was excellent. Here
our hero pressed Gorbachov for a Soviet imprimatur on his war resolution, but
Gorbachov was still stalling.
On Thanksgiving Day, Bush and Bar were with the troops in Saudi Arabia. Many soldiers
told reporters that they were not happy to be there, and were not in favor of war. One
trooper asked Bush, "Why not make a deal with Saddam Hussein, Mr. President?" while