US President George W. Bush suffered an embarrassing rebellion from the ranks Wednesday when the founder of the conservative Christian Coalition said the White House had dismissed the very idea of US casualties in Iraq during the run-up to the war.
In an interview with CNN, the movement's founder, Pat Robertson, described a conversation with Bush shortly before the war in which Robertson voiced his fears for US troops, and suggested it was time to prepare the country for loss.
PHOTO: EPA
"I warned him about this war. I had deep misgivings about this war, deep misgivings. And I was trying to say, `Mr President, you had better prepare the American people for casualties,'" Robertson said.
He said Bush had replied: "Oh, no, we're not going to have any casualties."
The rare criticism from Robertson, who otherwise remains an ardent supporter of the White House, was not the only act of betrayal by those claiming proximity to Bush.
Six of the president's kin have created a Web site called bushrelativesforkerry.com dedicated to the defeat of their famous relative. "Because blood is thinner than oil," the front page says.
"Please don't vote for our cousin."
The six are all descendants of Mary Bush House, the sister of Prescott Bush, the founder of the political dynasty and George W's grandfather. None has had any contact with the president, although a few knew his father, the first president Bush.
They accuse their cousin of gross arrogance, a misplaced sense of entitlement, and failing to live up to Christian values.
"As much as I'd like to vote for a relative running for president, I just can't," writes Hilary House.
But the family feud, though annoying for Bush, is unlikely to have anything near the impact of the criticism from a figure with Robertson's influence on the Christian right.
He has voiced doubts about the war in the past, but his decision to speak out uncompromisingly now -- less than a fortnight before polling day -- may deliver a serious setback to a Republican election strategy that hinges on turning out the 4 million evangelical Christians who stayed at home in 2000.
The televangelist also told CNN Wednesday that he wished the president would admit to making mistakes, and suggested that his frustrations had been growing.
"The Lord told me it was going to be A, a disaster, and B, messy," Robertson said. "I warned him about casualties."
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