News from the Square

The ICC Wants to Try Russia's Vladimir Putin for War Crimes—But What About George W. Bush?

GARDEN CITY PARK, NY: This past week (March 17, 2023), the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, Netherlands announced publicly that they have issued an arrest warrant for Russia's Vladimir Putin in light of the ongoing war against the Ukraine.

This begs the following question: What about our own President George W. Bush, and the war crimes that he himself committed twenty years ago whene he initiated the 2003-2011 Iraq War under the false claim that Saddam Hussein's regime were harboring "weapons of mass destruction"?

In recent days, the MSNBC-TV program "The Mehdi Hasan Show" aired a segment entitled "Iraq War: 20 Years Later" that places blame for that entire military operation at President Bush's feet. To see this troubling segment, you can either click here or you can copy/paste the link below into your own chosen browser:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4B3UmwZKQ58

For our author, seven-time Emmy award-winning producer and director Terry Jastrow, this recent report on President Bush's wrongdoings while in office is nothing new. In fact, his debut work of political fiction The Trial of George W. Bush ($16.95 USD, ISBN: 9780757005060) embodies Jastrow's hopes not only for peace and injustice in the world arena—but also political responsibility and accountability, starting with President Bush.

When conducting all manner of research for his novel, Jastrow (who is married to Oscar-nominated actress Anne Archer) was duly informed by the following shocking statistics from that war:

* US military deaths—4,431
* US military wounded physically and/or mentally in action—300,000 (approx.)
* Iraqi violent deaths—151,000
* Iraqi "excess" deaths (mostly civilian, "non"-military): 1 million, 33 thousand (approx.)
* Cost paid by US taxpayers—Over $2 trillion dollars (Note: $8,000 USD per avg. American)

By now, many have seen President Bush's speech flub made last year, when he spoke before an audience of the "wholly unjustified and brutal invasion of of Iraq—I mean, Ukraine." In light of the recent MSNBC report about our 43rd president, Terry Jastrow's novel about what might happen if President Bush were put on trial for war crimes at the ICC seems more relevant—and newsworthy—than ever.

The Trial of George W. Bush is available wherever books are sold, and can be also be heard in audio book format starring celebrated actor Jim Meskimen in the titular role (to hear a "sample," click here).