The American nation’s dissatisfaction with Pres. Bush’s administration is grounded in materialism. It is a rather simplistic view: Americans are hurting economically, ergo Pres. Bush is not a great President. This verdict is reflected in the 27% latest approval rating they have given Pres. Bush. This is a monumental error in judgment and an undeserved insult to a great President.

When a country is at war, the overriding goal is to win the war, not to bolster or speed up economic growth! Now, is the US winning the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? Yes! And this affirmative response becomes even more resounding when we consider the fact that no further attacks on US soil have succeeded after 9/11!

Ironically, the very fact that subsequent attacks did not materialize after 9/11 is what makes it difficult for the American people to appreciate Pres. Bush’s genius in prosecuting the war!

Had there been further attacks after the initial military response of the US to 9/11, maybe the American people would have been more appreciative of Pres. Bush’s subsequent response to these subsequent attacks!

The American nation should thank their Commander-in-Chief for preempting further attacks on their homeland and bringing the wars into the adversaries’ territories. This blessing is the same blessing they enjoyed during World War II: After the initial attack on Pearl Harbor, Pres. Roosevelt saw to it that all further battles would take place away from the US mainland. This was his overriding strategy. Hence, his decision to come to the aid of Great Britain and Russia.

Americans then greatly appreciated what FDR was doing and they demonstrated this gratitude by fully cooperating with the war effort. Now why, in heaven’s name, are present-day Americans unappreciative of what Pres. Bush is doing? And further consternation comes when again we consider the fact that Pres. Bush is directing a kind of war that is concededly tougher and uglier due to the absence of rules and the use of hit-and-hide tactics. To the adversaries this is a no- holds-barred conflict; non-combatants -- even women and children -- are fair game. Moreover, the end of this war is nowhere in sight; this is a conflict that by its very nature will rage for a long, long time.

It is likewise lamentable that the American people, through Congress, are not making it any easier for their Commander-in-Chief to secure additional funding for their troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. The kind of support that FD Roosevelt received from the American nation is clearly not available to Pres. Bush today .

(To be continued.)