As most of you probably know, George Bush released his memoir Decision Points on November 9, and has already awakened controversy.  I highly doubt anyone expected any work of genius, or even a remotely literary piece, but there is still excitement to be had over reading about the last few years of turmoil from the man himself.  This is exactly how the book was marketed, in fact: “For the first time, we learn President Bush’s perspective and insights.”  Yet, it seems that the book does not include any of Bush’s own perspectives, but instead includes the well-done research of his assistant and a conglomeration of other people’s already published insights.  The Huffington Post’s article lists a number of excerpts paired with their pre-published counterparts.  One of the more entertaining and impossible to deny excerpts goes like this:

“Bush writes: “Tommy told the national security team that he was working to apply the same concept of a light footprint to Iraq… ‘If we have multiple, highly skilled Special Operations forces identifying targets for precision-guided munitions, we will need fewer conventional grounds forces,’ he said. ‘That’s an important lesson learned from Afghanistan.’ I had a lot of concerns. … I asked the team to keep working on the plan. ‘We should remain optimistic that diplomacy and international pressure will succeed in disarming the regime,’ I said at the end of the meeting. ‘But we cannot allow weapons of mass destruction to fall into the hands of terrorists. I will not allow that to happen.’”

Franks, in his memoir American Soldier, writes: “‘For example, if we have multiple, highly skilled Special Operations forces identifying targets for precision-guided munitions, we will need fewer conventional ground forces. That’s an important lesson learned from Afghanistan.’ President Bush’s questions continued throughout the briefing…. Before the VTC ended, President Bush addressed us all. ‘We should remain optimistic that diplomacy and international pressure will succeed in disarming the regime.’ … The President paused. ‘Protecting the security of the United States is my responsibility,’ he continued. ‘But we cannot allow weapons of mass destruction to fall into the hands of terrorists.’ He shook his head. ‘I will not allow that to happen.'”

Really? I don’t know about you, but I find this insulting.  Does Bush have so little faith in the American people that he thought no one would notice?  Or perhaps he really is that lazy, and assumed the books would be sold and money be made before anyone would realize it.  The powers behind the book have stated that the seeming plagiarism is a result of accuracy.  I think, however, if this were turned in to a college professor, Bush wouldn’t pass the class.  But there is a bright side! The book can now be turned into a word search.