“ Ever since Mr. Bush led us into our adventures in Afghanistan and Iraq, I’ve thought that what we really ought to have is a Secretary of History.
If there had been one in 2003, when Mr. Bush announced his nation-building intentions in Mesopotamia, the Secretary of History, sitting at the cabinet table would have coughed softly, in the manner of Jeeves.
Yes, Mr. Secretary?
‘Well, sir, if I may?’
Go ahead, Mr. Secretary.
‘Well, sir, the British tried that back in the 1920’s.’
And?
‘It could not be termed an unqualified success, I shouldn’t think, sir. But of course you are the President.’
If there had been one in 2003, when Mr. Bush announced his nation-building intentions in Mesopotamia, the Secretary of History, sitting at the cabinet table would have coughed softly, in the manner of Jeeves.
Yes, Mr. Secretary?
‘Well, sir, if I may?’
Go ahead, Mr. Secretary.
‘Well, sir, the British tried that back in the 1920’s.’
And?
‘It could not be termed an unqualified success, I shouldn’t think, sir. But of course you are the President.’
