The Hiller Instinct: The Two Bushes

President George Bush Senior, January 16, 1991|
"Just two hours ago allied air forces began an attack on military targets in Iraq and Kuwait."

That's the way President George Bush announced the start of the Persian Gulf War to the American public back in 1991. Very soon, his son is expected to make a very similar declaration against the same enemy. 7 Political Editor Andy Hiller takes a closer look at the similarities and differences between the two presidents.

George Bush Senior
"The brutality against innocent civilians will not be tolerated and will not stand."

President George W. Bush
"No more executions of dissidents, no more torture chambers and rape rooms. The tyrant will soon be gone."

If you wrote a book about the two President Bushes and their wars with Saddam Hussein, you could title it "Like Father, Not Exactly Like Son," even though, sometimes, they do sound exactly alike…

George Bush Senior
"The conclusion is clear, Saddam Hussein continues to reject a diplomatic solution."

George W. Bush
"For those who urge more diplomacy, I would simply say that diplomacy hasn't worked."

And as Saddam warily watches Washington, he may think he's seeing double, since Vice President Dick Cheney was defense secretary under former President Bush, and Secretary of State Colin Powell was chairman of the joint chiefs of staff during the Gulf War.

But just look at the United Nations and you'll see the differences between the Bushes. When the first President Bush led a coalition of 32 nations against Iraq, he wanted Saddam to know how important the U.N. was to the White House…

George Bush Senior
"This is to be sure that he understands how strongly the president of the United States feels about implementing to a ‘T,’ without concession, the United Nation’s position."

But this president bush…

George W. Bush
"The United Nations Security Council has not lived up to its responsibilities, so we will rise to ours."

Two more key differences between the Bushes are their experience and personalities. Former President Bush was a career politician, well connected with world leaders. This President Bush has been in Washington just over two years. And while the former President was a yankee, this President Bush is much more a cowboy.

George W. Bush
"I want to thank my dad, the most decent man I have ever known... (cheers)"

Still, they are father and son and the son doesn't forget or forgive Saddam…

George W. Bush
"There's no doubt his hatred is mainly directed at us, there's no doubt he can't stand us. After all, this is the guy who tried to kill my dad at one time."