President’s Day: Honoring George Herbert Walker Bush the American 41st President

strategist@afripol.org        www.afripol.org   

President George H. W. Bush the 41^st American president has rendered an enormous contribution to American society and polity. As we sing praises of great American presidents we cannot forget this great patriot and gentleman who has devoted all his life to the service for America and humanity. The former president came into presidency after being a vice president under a popular president, Ronald Reagan. It must be a tough act to follow after President Reagan, for without doubt Ronald Reagan was a great president particularly on his accomplishments in foreign policy. When historians write about the achievements of President Reagan especially in his contribution in the victory over cold war, they must also sing the praise of his vice president, George H. W. Bush who has a great credential and resume on foreign policy, he was part of the team that formulated the strategy for the final collapse of the cold war.

During his presidency, President George Herbert Bush managed the end of the cold war successfully. As the cold war ended the whole world looked up to America for a new and fresh leadership. President H. W. Bush gave the world a bold road map to a peaceful world. The Eastern European Block economies were shattered by central planning and instability, the rest of the world especially Africa and Middle East were beset with dictators, wars and uprisings. President H. W. Bush came to these problems with firmness, determination and compassion. His intellectual capital he brought to bear contributed immensely in stabilizing the troubled world.

The former president has the ability to manage change effectively. After the defunct of Soviet Union, a matured and seasoned leadership was needed in the transformation from communism to democracy and capitalism; President H. W. George Bush with his rightful and extensive experience in foreign policy was able to pilot the defunct Union to a peaceful and smooth transformation. The Russians must not be treated as losers but as another important nation needed to be welcomed in the peaceful comity of nations. President Bush performed the difficult, if not a delicate task which is to treat Russia with respect but at same time remind them firmly to respect their neighbor’s rights to exist in freedom and liberty. The superior leadership with diplomatic skill rooted in experience and enlightenment, was a diplomatic prudence championed by President Bush.

The fall of Berlin wall and the struggle for German unification needed a prudent manager. It was a delicate and important period in the global geo-political affairs and a seasoned hand was needed in the Oval Office to manage it. The unification was successful and Russia played a constructive role in the development. All these did not happen because of good fortune, it happened because of the accomplished men and women that was led by an efficient leader George H. W. Bush.

As Secretary General Gorbachev of Soviet Union was struggling with glasnost and perestroika, he needed a partner in the West; President Bush and his team managed successfully the end of cold war and materialization of market economy in Russia and  Eastern Block.

In the Middle East he made a credible effort to make PEACE by bringing the two parties together with the intention of forging an everlasting peace. When a peaceful Kuwait was invaded by its aggressive neighbor Iraq: President H. W. Bush reiterated by assembling the world together and resisted the naked aggression and restores the integrity of the Kuwait‘s nationhood. President H. W. Bush is a great American, a patriot and of course a great president!

Emeka Chiakwelu is the Principal Policy Strategist at Afripol Organization. Africa Political and Economic Strategic Center (Afripol) is foremost a public policy center whose fundamental objective is to broaden the parameters of public policy debates in Africa. To advocate, promote and encourage free enterprise, democracy, sustainable green environment, human rights, conflict resolutions, transparency and probity in Africa.