Doglike Fidelity - The Cornerstone of the Cult of Bush

The power of Commander-in-Chief, President Bush argues, places Congress within a subservient role. It is fine for members to disagree with him, but they'd better not touch the funding for the war in Iraq. Democrats who dare to suggest that they will set conditions on war funding are accused of micromanaging the war, or of invading the President's constitutional powers.

In another domain, army First Lieutenant Watada is set to be court-marshaled again, after a mistrial, for failing to report for duty in Iraq. He has claimed that the war in Iraq is immoral, and violates the U.S. Constitution, the War Powers Act, the U.N. Charter, and the Nuremberg Principles, which bar "wars of aggression." Although he has many supporters, his stand is reviled as a threat to unquestioned obedience by many commentators of the authoritarian type.

There is a common thread tying the debates in Congress to the court-marshall of Watada. In both cases, individuals are trying to shake off the trance that has existed in this country since 9-11 gave the Bush Administration carte-blanche to pursue any aggressive foreign policies he desired. This trance has elements of a cult to it: even members of Congress and the media, whose job it is to question a president and his policies, became enthralled by the militaristic aura of the Commander-in-Chief. Like members of cults, they continued to be loyal and obedient long after it became apparent that the leader was not making sound or well-reasoned decisions.