Comment by gjsman-1000
3 years ago
I do not understand your point about his "Just Cause" pun. Other than that it can mean two things simultaneously depending on how it is interpreted.
3 years ago
I do not understand your point about his "Just Cause" pun. Other than that it can mean two things simultaneously depending on how it is interpreted.
I think the point was that it is circular reasoning.
They're making a joke.
I'm not sure a pun this bad is allowed to have a point.
"Just Cause" was certainly not intended by Bush or his minions to be a pun. Remember, this is the same family that gave us "Mission Accomplished".
Conservatives aren't known for their sense of humor, which is usually limited to punching down and demeaning weaker opponents, not insightful self depreciation and candor. Case in point:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_%C2%BD_Hour_News_Hour#Rece...
The "Just 'Cuz" interpretation was pointed out by critics of Bush's otherwise unjustifiable invasion. The US created the original problem by supporting and paying Noriega while turning a blind eye to his abuses and corruption for so long.
The operation plan it came from was called the "Prayer Book", so circular reasoning was the essential justification of its self fulfilling prophecy, just like with any religion.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_invasion_of_Pana...
>Origin of the name "Operation Just Cause"
>Operation plans directed against Panama evolved from plans designed to defend the Panama Canal. They became more aggressive as the situation between the two nations deteriorated. The Prayer Book series of plans included rehearsals for a possible clash (Operation Purple Storm) and missions to secure U.S. sites (Operation Bushmaster).
>Eventually, these plans became Operation Blue Spoon which was then, in order to sustain the perceived legitimacy of the invasion throughout the operation, renamed by the Pentagon to Operation Just Cause. General Colin Powell said that he liked the name because "even our severest critics would have to utter 'Just Cause' while denouncing us." Critics, however, renamed it Operation "Just 'Cuz", arguing that it had been undertaken "just [be]cause Bush felt like it."
https://www.outsidethebeltway.com/war-and-rhetoric/
>The incursion into Panama, which came to be derisively known as “Operation Just ‘Cuz,” is the hardest to justify on Realist grounds. The rationale for going in doesn’t stand up to the test of time but made some sense at the time. The Panama Canal was indeed a longstanding American interest. And the war on drugs angle was important, as was the the complicated relationship with Noriega. Regardless, we certainly didn’t go in to make Panama more safe for democracy. Nor did we stay for years nation-building. It was a limited incursion, over in less time than an NBA postseason.
https://web.archive.org/web/20210603051719/https://www.lonel...
>The US reaction was swift and unrelenting. In the first hour of December 20, 1989, Panama City was attacked by aircraft, tanks and 26,000 US troops in ‘Operation Just Cause,’ though the US media often labeled it ‘Operation "Just 'cuz."’ Although the stated intention of the invasion was to bring Noriega to justice and create a democracy, it left more than 2000 civilians dead and tens of thousands homeless, and destroyed entire tracts of Panama City.