In an otherwise unremittingly negative review of retired general Ricardo Sanchez’s book detailing his experiences in (mis)managing the Iraq war, Washington Post columnist William Arkin of, we find this rather remarkable quote from the general’s book: “

Today in the San Antonio Express-News, Sanchez blames everyone else for what happened during his 14 months in Iraq and says he experienced ‘confused’ pep talks from President Bush. ‘Kick ass!’ Bush is said to have said in the video-teleconference during the battle of Fallujah in 2004. ‘If somebody tries to stop the march to democracy, we will seek them out and kill them! We must be tougher than hell!’

(emphasis mine)

While I agree that Sanchez’s tenure in Iraq deserves nothing but disdain, he, along with Paul Bremer are the two people most responsible for US missteps, I think that he misses the importance of this quote.

The importance is not that Sanchez blames someone else. It’s that what George W. Bush said is are indicators clearly, and deeply, disturbed mind. I’m not talking Pat Buchanan crazy here. I’m talking really, literally insane.

GW Bush’s finger is on the button, and I think that we are seeing someone who is suffering from some severe psychosis, the sort that would normally require compulsory medication, and possibly detention, and Arkin misses it because he, with much justification, hates Sanchez so much.