Conservapedia - User contributions [en]

Moon

2021-04-08T06:09:56Z

StarkGaryen:

{{Planet|image=Moon2.jpg
|caption= The Moon in its third quarter phase
|primary=Earth
|periapsis=363,300 km<ref name=moonfact>Williams, David R. (bef. March 7, 1996). [http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/factsheet/moonfact.html "Moon Fact Sheet"]. [[NASA]] website/Goddard Space Flight Center/NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive/Lunar and Planetary Science/Planetary Fact Sheet. January 2020 edition.</ref>
|apoapsis=405,500 km<ref name=moonfact/>
|semimajor=384,400 km<ref name=moonfact/><ref name=ssdorbit>Chamberlin, Alan B. (1996). [http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/?sat_elem "Planetary satellite mean orbital parameters"]. [[National Aeronautics and Space Administration|NASA]] website/California Institute of Technology/[[Jet Propulsion Laboratory]]/Solar System Dynamics. July 17, 2020 edition.</ref>
|orbitradius=378,000 km
|eccentricity=0.0549<ref name=moonfact/><ref name=ssdorbit/>
|sidereal=27.3217 da
|synodic=29.530588 da
|orbitspeed=1.023 km/s
|inclination=18.28°<ref name=moonfact/>
|siderealday=27.3217 da<ref name=moonfact/><ref name=ssdorbit/>
|solarday=29.530588 da
|mass=7.35 * 1022 (1.23% earth)<ref name=moonfact/>
|density=3350 kg/m³<ref name=ssdphys>Chamberlin, Alan B. (1996). [http://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/?sat_phys_par "Planetary satellite physical parameters"]. [[National Aeronautics and Space Administration|NASA]] website/California Institute of Technology/[[Jet Propulsion Laboratory]]/Planetary Satellite Physical Parameters. February 19, 2015 edition.</ref>
|surfacegrav=1.62 m/s² (0.165 ''g'')<ref name=moonfact/>
|escapespeed=2.38 km/s<ref name=moonfact/>
|meanradius=1737.1 km<ref name=moonfact/><ref name=ssdphys/>
|equatorradius =1738.1 km<ref name=moonfact/>
|polarradius =1736.0 km<ref name=moonfact/>
|surfacearea=37,919,000 km² (7.434% earth)
|mintemp=100 K
|meantemp=250 K
|maxtemp=400 K
|albedo=0.12<ref name=moonfact/>
|pmdm=1.3 * 1015 N-m/T<ref name=Humphreys>Humphreys, D. R. (December 1984). [https://crs-alchemy-attachments.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/pdf/crsq-1984-volume-21-number-3.pdf "The creation of planetary magnetic fields".] ''Creation Research Society Quarterly'' (St. Joseph, MO: Creation Research Society), vol. 21, no. 3, pp. 140-9.</ref>
|cmdm=1.73 * 1022 N-m/T<ref name=Humphreys/>
|mdt=364 a<ref name=Humphreys/>
|mhl=252.3 a<ref name=calc group=note>Calculated</ref>
}}A '''moon''' is a body which orbits a [[planet]]. The [[Earth]]'s Moon (sometimes known as "Luna") is a natural [[satellite]] orbiting Earth at an average distance of about 238,000 miles (380,000 km). It is the basis for our monthly calendar: a full moon occurs roughly once per month.<ref>https://answersingenesis.org/astronomy/the-splendor-of-gods-creation/</ref>

The Moon is unique in the solar system in its large relative size compared with the [[Earth]]. The Moon appears from the Earth to be the same size as the [[sun]], in perfect artistic symmetry, unlike any known other planet-moon system. Moreover, unlike most planets in the [[solar system]], [[Earth]] has only one moon. And the Moon has two more remarkable artistic attributes: (1) it rotates and revolves in a way such that only one side is ever visible to the Earth (the only moon with this remarkable characteristic)<ref>Some attribute the remarkable orbit and rotation of the Moon as being due to tidal locking.</ref> and (2) its side that faces the Earth is smooth, while the side that remains hidden is jagged. To those on Earth the Moon appears as an artistic disc that goes through phases of varying visibility from Earth.

Science has proposed a number of sensible theories to explain the [[Origin of the Moon]], including a second planet colliding with [[Earth]] or even a second moon colliding with the first.<ref>[https://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2011/08/03/earth-once-had-second-moon-astronomers-say/?test=faces "Earth once had a second moon, astronomers say"] (August 3, 2011). Associated Press. Reprinted by ''Fox News'' website. Last update January 8, 2015.</ref>

==The Moon as God's creation==

The Earth's moon has several striking characteristics. To many Christians, these characteristics appear as "clues" or "hints" left by God for men to discover.<ref>http://www.math.nus.edu.sg/aslaksen/gem-projects/hm/0102-1-phase/CALENDARS.htm</ref>

===Size of its disc===

The Moon is just far enough away from the Earth to appear the same size of the Sun. This creates a unique symmetry and phenomenal [[solar eclipse]]s.
In precise terms, the ratio of the apparent diameter of the Moon to that of the Sun is on average 0.97<ref name="creationresearch.org">Faulkner, Danny R. (June 1998). [https://crs-alchemy-attachments.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/pdf/crsq-1998-volume-35-number-1.pdf "The angular size of the moon and other planetary satellites: An argument for design".] ''Creation Research Society Quarterly'' (St. Joseph, MO: Creation Research Society), vol. 35, no. 1, pp. 23-6.</ref> with a variation (due almost entirely to the [[orbital eccentricity|eccentricity]] of the Moon's orbit) of roughly ±0.05.<ref>Walker, John (May 1997). [http://www.fourmilab.ch/earthview/moon_ap_per.html "Inconstant moon: the moon at apogee and perigee"]. Fourmilab Switzerland website.</ref>

Of the known satellites in the [[Solar System]], only three others exhibit the phenomenon of being close in apparent size to the Sun when viewed from their parent planet. These are [[Saturn]]'s moons Prometheus and Epimetheus (with average diameter ratios of 1.03 and 0.95) and [[Uranus]]'s Cordelia (1.08).<ref name="creationresearch.org"/> Given the figure of approximately 170 known planetary satellites in the Solar System (though the figure regularly increases with new discoveries), this gives as an [[Probability|empirical probability]] for the phenomenon of 4/170 or 2.4%, which is consistent with the theoretical figure.

It should be noted, however, that by virtue of the planets' distance form the Sun, these eclipses would appear very small in the sky, and would be nothing as spectacular as a total solar eclipse on Earth.

===Rotation and revolution===

The Moon presents the same side to Earth at all times. That means that the rotation of the Earth offsets the separate effects of lunar revolution. Physical explanations rely on [[tidal locking]], asserting that tidal forces on Earth caused a bulge on the Moon, thereby creating a drag on the rotation of the Moon until the same side always faced the Earth.<ref group=note>The same theory suggested that the planet [[Mercury]] had a similar locked rotation due to gravitational forces from the sun, such that the same side of Mercury always faces the sun. In fact, that is false. [[Mercury]]'s tidal locking is incomplete and it does not always present the same face to the sun.</ref> In fact, current tidal forces exerted by the Earth on the Moon cannot account fully for its bulge or egg shape.<ref>"[http://physics.fortlewis.edu/Astronomy/astronomy%20today/CHAISSON/AT308/HTML/AT30803.HTM Chapter 8, Section 3: The Rotation of the Moon]," "Astronomy Today", Department of Physics, Fort Lewis College, Durango, [[Colorado|CO]]. Accessed February 18, 2008</ref>

===Lunar origin theories===

The current scientific consensus is that the Moon originated from a collision early in Earth's history which created an orbiting ring of debris from the [[iron]]-poor surface of the planet which eventually coalesced into the moon.<ref>http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=2198</ref>

Biblical history records the Moon being created on the fourth day of [[creation week]], along with the Sun:

{{Bible quote|And God said, Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs, and for seasons, and for days, and years: And let them be for lights in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth: and it was so. And God made two great lights; the greater light to rule the day, and the lesser light to rule the night: [he made] the stars also. And God set them in the firmament of the heaven to give light upon the earth, And to rule over the day and over the night, and to divide the light from the darkness: and God saw that [it was] good. And the evening and the morning were the fourth day.|book=Genesis|chap=1|verses=14-19|version=KJV}}

===Rate of recession===

The Moon currently recedes from the Earth at a rate of 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) per year<ref>NASA [http://sunearth.gsfc.nasa.gov/eclipse/SEhelp/ApolloLaser.html Measuring the Moon's Distance], ''LPI Bulletin'', No. 72, August, 1994.</ref> and is believed by [[atheist]]ic scientists to be 4.6 billion years old,<ref>NASA, [http://history.nasa.gov/SP-350/ch-15-2.html Apollo Expeditions to the Moon], Chapter 15.2.</ref> but that is contradicted by an extrapolation backwards in time using its observed rate of recession.

The Moon could never have been closer than about 11,000 miles, or it would have been broken up by tidal forces.<ref name="js">Sarfati, Jonathan (September 1998). [http://www.creationontheweb.com/content/view/764/ "The moon: the light that rules the night".] ''Creation Ex Nihilo'' (Brisbane, QL, Australia: Answers in Genesis), vol. 20, no. 4, pp. 36–9. Reprinted at Creation.com website.</ref> If the rate of recession stayed constant at 3.8 cm per year, it would take 9.6 billion years for the lunar distance to migrate from 11,000 miles to the present distance of about 240,000 miles. However, a further principle would be needed to show the rate of recession would have been constant over the hypothetical 9.6-billion-year time period.

===Impact craters===
Astronomers assume that crater impacts are a reliable indicator of the age of a celestial body. True to the form and principles of [[uniformitarianism]] (as applied to [[astronomy]] rather than to [[geology]]), any such estimation relies upon uniform constants and weather/erosion trends. Recent research into crater impacts on the moon suggests that many of the assumptions previously made are unwarranted. Bonnie Buratti of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory has asserted that space weathering "takes place very rapidly on the Moon."<ref>David, Leonard. "[http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/lunar_impact_021214.html Lunar Crash of 1953: Impact Crater Identified]." <http://www.space.com>, December 14, 2002. Accessed January 16, 2008.</ref> Peter Brown of the University of Western Ontario insists that there is no absolute criteria for the dating of craters.<ref>Hecht, Jeff. "[http://www.newscientist.com/article.ns?id=dn3242 New crater revives Moon mystery]." <http://www.newscientist.com>, January 11, 2003. Accessed January 16, 2008.</ref>

===Creationist models===
Danny Faulkner of the [[Institute for Creation Research]] has observed that many of the lunar maria contain ''ghost craters'', or craters that the lava flow that produced the maria seem to have filled only partially. In the [[deep time]] scale required by [[uniformitarianism]], the ghost craters are the result of impacts that occurred as much as half a gigayear before the crust-fracturing impacts that caused the lava flows.<ref name=Henderson>Henderson, Thomas H. "[http://www.hal-pc.org/~tom/HeavyCratering.html Do heavily cratered planets and moons demand an old age for the solar system]?" ''Tom Henderson's Creation Resources'', July 25, 2003. Accessed March 25, 2008.</ref> This is not a reasonable assumption, because any impact strong enough to crack the crust should have obliterated any craters previously extant. Faulkner thus concludes that the impacts that formed the ghost craters, and those that let loose the lava flows that formed the maria, occurred within days of one another<ref name=Faulkner1>Faulkner, Danny. "[https://www.icr.org/research/index/researchp_df_r01/ The Current State of Creation Astronomy]." ''Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Creationism,'' Creation Science Fellowship, Pittsburgh, pp. 201–216, August 3–8, 1998. Hosted at ''[[Institute for Creation Research]].'' Accessed March 25, 2008.</ref> and were probably part of at least one system-wide catastrophe involving a narrow stream of meteoroids and/or comets that delivered a concentrated bombardment of the Earth and Moon in a short interval.<ref name=Faulkner2>Faulkner, Danny. "[http://creationontheweb.com/content/view/1637 A Biblically-based cratering theory]." ''Technical Journal'' (now ''Journal of Creation''), 13(1):100-104, April 1999.</ref>

Faulkner assumes that this system-wide catastrophe occurred during the year of the [[Great Flood]]. But in 1984, Russell Humphreys, then at the Sandia National Laboratories, developed evidence suggesting different dates entirely. Specifically, the [[Project Apollo]] exploration teams brought back many samples of [[basalt]] (an [[igneous rock]]) and [[brecchia]] (pulverized meteor-impact remains). Geologists analyzed both types of samples and found evidence that each type of rock had once been in a magnetic field far more powerful than that which the Moon has today. Using his model for the creation and decay of magnetic fields,<ref name=Humphreys/> Humphreys determined that the basalt had been laid down about 370 years after creation, and the brecchia had been laid down 1840 years after creation, or about 190 years after the Flood.<ref name=Humphreys2 group=note>Humphreys reasoned that the higher the magnetic dipole moment of the samples, the earlier in lunar history they were formed.</ref> These findings clearly suggest that the Moon, and presumably all other bodies in the solar system, have been subject to two separate system-wide bombardments, one occurring in the second or third generation after the [[fall of man]] and the other occurring well after the Flood.

==Tides==

The gravitational force of the Moon causes the ocean [[tides]]; these tidal forces have other effects as well. These tidal forces have the effect of creating resistance which slows down the rotation of both objects. In the case of the Earth, the result is that the Earth's rotation slows on the order of one millisecond per century. The Moon's rotation is locked in to its period of revolution, and the same side of the Moon always faces the Earth.

==The "dark" or far side==

The phrase "the ''dark'' side of the Moon" is inaccurate because the Moon does rotate relative to the Sun, with the same period as its period of revolution, once every 29 days. Our view of the Moon from the Earth always shows the same side of the Moon, with the same markings and features. When the Moon is full, the entire side that faces us is experiencing lunar "day" and is lit by the Sun. Two weeks later, when the Moon is new, the side that faces us is experiencing solar "night" and is unlit (and virtually invisible).

The far side of the moon is far more heavily cratered than the near, and the predominant type of cratering is consistent with brecchia-forming meteor impact. This would suggest that the far side suffered its bombardment in the latter of the two catastrophes that Humphreys suggests that the Moon has suffered.

Due to a slight "wobble" in the lunar motion called ''libration,'' we actually see a little bit more than half of the Moon's surface; sometimes it is turned a bit one way and sometimes the other. However, nobody had any idea of what the far side of the Moon looked like until 1959, when a Soviet satellite photographed it and relayed pictures back.
==Earthshine==
[[image:oldmooninnew.jpg|200px|right|thumb|The "old Moon in the new Moon's arms"]]
In the old Scottish ballad ''Sir Patrick Spens'',<ref>Child, Francis James (1860), ''The English and Scottish Popular Ballads,'' [http://www.sacred-texts.com/neu/eng/child/ch058.htm No. 58]; the ballad is thought to refer to an actual event of the year A.D. 1290.</ref> a [[sailor]] cautions:

:"I saw the new moon late yestreen
::With the old moon in her arm;
:And if we go to sea, master,
::I fear we'll come to harm."

The effect known as "the old Moon in the new Moon's arms" can often be seen when the Moon is a narrow [[crescent]]. Within the intensely bright crescent, a dim and mysterious view of the entire circular moon is seen. The effect is also known as ''earthshine'' because it is light from the Sun reflected off the Earth to the Moon and back that lights up the darker portion of the Moon. The bright crescent is lit by the Sun and is in full daylight. The rest of the Moon is not lit by the Sun; but an [[astronaut]] standing in this area would see a "full Earth" dominating the nighttime sky, lighting it up by its earthshine. The brightness of Earthshine, and hence the visibility of the old Moon in the new Moon's arms, varies. When the Earth is covered with clouds, or when there is a lot of snow-pack on the side of the Earth facing the Moon, the Earth is a white and bright and the Earthshine is intense. When the Earth looks like a "big, blue marble," it is less intense.

==Lunar calendars==

Throughout history, many calendar systems have been based on the phases of the moon.

The months of the [[Islam|Muslim]] [[calendar]] are determined by observations of the [[hilal]], the moment at which the thin crescent moon first becomes visible. This marks the start of a month. Traditionally, and today in [[Pakistan]] and [[Jordan]], hilal is determined by actual observation and can be affected by weather and other factors. When following the traditional method, it is not actually possible to be certain precisely when future months will begin. In most Muslim countries, actual observation has been replaced by [[astronomy|astronomical]] rules.

== Magnetism Mystery ==

Rocks on the Moon are magnetized, yet there is no magnetic field there today. In one new proposal, researchers at the University of California have suggested that the moon's solid-rock middle layer, called its mantle, stirs up its liquid iron core. The researchers believe this happens because the moon's core and its mantle rotate around slightly different axes, and the boundary between them is not quite spherical.

The strength of this stirring is determined by the angle between the core and the mantle, and the distance between the Earth and the moon, because the tidal forces from the Earth causes the moon's mantle to rotate differently than the core.

This model would explain why the moon no longer has a magnetic field. Since the angle between the mantle and the core has narrowed over time, while the distance between the moon and the Earth has widened, this has caused the tidal forces to steadily decrease. While these forces used to be enough to generate a dynamo inside the moon, they aren't anymore.
<ref>Moskowitz, Clara (2011). [https://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2011/1109/Have-scientists-finally-solved-the-mystery-of-the-magnetic-moon "Have scientists finally solved the mystery of the magnetic moon?"] ''Christian Science Monitor'' website.</ref>

==The Moon in culture==

"The Old Moon in the New Moon's Arms" is the title of a poem by [[Ella Wheeler Wilcox]], in which she interprets the effect as the New Moon wishing that her lost love, the Old Moon, be in her arms one last time; Venus grants the wish, and:

:Swift thro' the vapors and the golden mist—
::The Full Moon's shadowy shape shone on the night,
:The New Moon reached out clasping arms and kissed
::Her phantom lover in the whole world's sight.

== Other moons ==
[[Image:Many_Moons.jpg|250px|left]]
While the Moon of Earth is the best-known satellite of any [[planet]], other planets in our solar system also have moons. Earth has the least number of moons (one), while [[Jupiter]] has sixty-two. The first extraterrestrial moons to be discovered were the four Galilean moons ([[Io]], [[Europa (moon)|Europa]], [[Ganymede]], and [[Callisto]]). Next to these, Earth's Moon is one of the largest, but Jupiter and [[Saturn]] have moons in orbit about them that might qualify as planets if they orbited the [[Sun]] instead.
{{clear}}
===Moons in our solar system===
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Planet !! Number of moons !! Moon names
|-
| Earth || 1 || "Moon" or Luna
|-
| Mars || 2|| Deimos & Phobos
|-
| Jupiter || 79 ||
|-
| Saturn || 62 ||
|-
| Uranus || 27 ||
|-
| Neptune || 14 ||
|-
|Pluto (dwarf) || 5 || Charon, Nix & Hydra
|-
| Haumea (dwarf) || 2 ||Namaka & Hi'iaka
|-
|Eris || 1 || Dysnomia
|}
There are at least 182 natural moons known to exist in our solar system, counting those which are in orbit of dwarf planets.<ref>Multiple references:
*https://windows2universe.org/our_solar_system/moons_table.html (Retrieved April 9, 2019)
*https://www.universetoday.com/15516/how-many-moons-are-in-the-solar-system/ (Retrieved April 9, 2019)
*https://space-facts.com/moons/ (Retrieved April 9, 2019)
*https://spacedictionary.org/moons/ (Retrieved April 9, 2019)</ref>

=== Sizes of moons ===
Most moons in the solar system are no larger than typical asteroids. They are of irregular shape, have light and variable surface gravities, and are often unstable in their orbits. [[Phobos]] and [[Deimos]], the moons of [[Mars]], fall into this category.

Earth's own moon is an example of a [[dwarf planet]]-sized moon. These moons are so large that their own self-gravity forces them to collapse into spheres or spheroids. Some of them, like [[Ganymede]] and [[Titan (moon)|Titan]], are larger even than the planet [[Mercury]]. Earth's moon was, of course, known to the ancients, but the remaining dwarf-planet-sized moons were generally the first to be discovered in orbit around any given primary. [[Galileo Galilei]] discovered the first four of these in orbit about [[Jupiter]] early in the seventeenth century; [[Christiaan Huygens]] then discovered Titan of [[Saturn]] later in that same century.

== Symbolic importance in Islam ==
The crescent moon is an internationally recognized symbol of [[Islam]]. It appears on the flags of several Islamic nations. It also forms part of the official emblems of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.<ref>http://islam.about.com/od/history/a/crescent_moon.htm</ref>

== See also ==
*[[Origin of the Moon]]
== External links ==

*[http://www.solarviews.com/eng/terms.htm Glossary]
==Further reading==
* Donna Henes. ''The Moon Watcher's Companion: Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About the Moon, and More'' (2004) [https://www.amazon.com/Moon-Watchers-Companion-Everything-Wanted/dp/1569244669/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1241592218&sr=1-11 excerpt and text search]
* David Schrunk et al. ''The Moon: Resources, Future Development and Settlement'' (2007) [https://www.amazon.com/Moon-Resources-Development-Settlement-Exploration/dp/0387360557/ref=sr_1_12?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1241592379&sr=1-12 excerpt and text search]
* Seymour Simon, ''The Moon'' (2003) [https://www.amazon.com/Moon-Seymour-Simon/dp/0689835639/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1241592218&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]

==Notes==
{{reflist1904|group=note}}

== References ==
{{reflist|2}}
{{Solarsystem}}
[[Category:Astronomy]]
[[Category:Moon]]

President of the United States of America

2021-04-08T06:02:48Z

StarkGaryen: /* Presidents list */

[[Image:Presidential seal 506x508.gif|thumbnail|right|The [[United States]] Presidential Seal]]
The '''President of the United States''' is the head of the [[United States of America|U.S.]] [[Executive Branch]]. As the [[head of state]] of the [[United States of America]], the president is one of the most powerful people in the [[world]]. The writers of the [[United States Constitution|Constitution]] recognized that they were writing a job description which, in [[England]], was and is filled by the office of the [[prime minister]] and position of the [[Monarchy|monarch]]. According to the [[Founding Fathers]] of the USA, at that time, the monarchy of England did not appear to serve the common man and the Founding Fathers wanted a [[government]] that did.

==Current president==
[[Joseph Biden]] was installed on January 20, 2021. His legitimate predecessor was [[Donald J. Trump]]. Biden's election is disputed due to credible evidence of [[Democrat election fraud|extensive voter fraud]].<ref>[https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/be36dc6d-0df4-4c20-addf-fca72be46150/The%20Navarro%20Report%20Volume%20III%20Final%201.13.21-0001.pdf Navarro Report, Volume 3]</ref>

==Election==
The president is elected every four years by the American people, although not through a popular vote but rather through the [[Electoral College]]. This process makes the presidency one of the few elected officials in the [[United States of America]] chosen indirectly. The Founding Fathers implemented this procedure to ensure the relevance of smaller states in the voting process.

==Term limits==
Prior to [[Franklin Delano Roosevelt]], presidents voluntarily limited themselves to two terms as an homage to [[George Washington]]. After Franklin D. Roosevelt served a little over twelve years in office, [[Congress]] passed the 22nd [[Constitutional Amendment]] restricting future presidents to two terms.

However, if the vice president succeeds to the presidency with no more than two years left in the prior president's term, he is allowed to run for two full terms, raising the potential time in office to ten years.

The first president to whom term limits applied was [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]].

==See also==
* [[Vice President of the United States of America]]
* [[Unitary Executive Theory]]
* [[List of United States Presidential firsts]]

==Presidents list==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!President
!Years
!State
!Party
!Vice President(s)
!Wing
|-
|1. [[George Washington]]
|1789–1797
|[[Virginia]]
|none
|[[John Adams|Adams]]
|Right
|-
|2. [[John Adams]]
|1797–1801
|[[Massachusetts]]
|[[Federalist]]
|[[Thomas Jefferson|Jefferson]]
|Right
|-
|3. [[Thomas Jefferson]]
|1801–1809
|[[Virginia]]
|[[Republican (Jeffersonian)]]
|[[Aaron Burr|Burr]], [[George Clinton|Clinton]]
|Moderate Left
|-
|4. [[James Madison]]
|1809–1817
|[[Virginia]]
|[[Republican (Jeffersonian)]]
|[[George Clinton|Clinton]], [[Elbridge Gerry|Gerry]]
|Center
|-
|5. [[James Monroe]]
|1817–1825
|[[Virginia]]
|[[Republican (Jeffersonian)]]
|[[Daniel D. Tompkins|Tompkins]]
|
|-
|6. [[John Quincy Adams]]
|1825–1829
|[[Massachusetts]]
|[[National Republican]]
|[[John C. Calhoun|Calhoun]]
|Moderate Right
|-
|7. [[Andrew Jackson]]
|1829–1837
|[[Tennessee]]
|[[Democrat Party|Democrat]]
|[[John C. Calhoun|Calhoun]], [[Martin van Buren|Van Buren]]
|Moderate Left
|-
|8. [[Martin van Buren]]
|1837–1841
|[[New York]]
|[[Democrat Party|Democrat]]
|[[Richard M. Johnson|Johnson]]
|Left
|-
|9. [[William Henry Harrison]]
|1841
|none
|[[Whig Party|Whig]]
|[[John Tyler|Tyler]]
|
|-
|10. [[John Tyler]]
|1841–1845
|[[Virginia]]
|[[Whig Party|Whig]]
|none
|
|-
|11. [[James Knox Polk]]
|1845–1849
|[[Tennessee]]
|[[Democrat Party|Democrat]]
|[[George M. Dallas|Dallas]]
|
|-
|12. [[Zachary Taylor]]
|1849–1850
|none
|[[Whig Party|Whig]]
|[[Millard Fillmore|Fillmore]]
|
|-
|13. [[Millard Fillmore]]
|1850–1853
|[[New York]]
|[[Whig Party|Whig]]
|none
|Moderate
|-
|14. [[Franklin Pierce]]
|1853–1857
|[[New Hampshire]]
|[[Democrat Party|Democrat]]
|[[William King|King]]
|Moderate Left
|-
|15. [[James Buchanan]]
|1857–1861
|[[Pennsylvania]]
|[[Democrat Party|Democrat]]
|[[John C. Breckinridge|Breckinridge]]
|Left
|-
|16. [[Abraham Lincoln]]
|1861–1865
|[[Illinois]]
|[[Republican Party|Republican]]
|[[Hannibal Hamlin|Hamlin]], [[Andrew Johnson|Johnson]]
|Right
|-
|17. [[Andrew Johnson]]
|1865–1869
|[[Tennessee]]
|[[Democrat Party|Democrat]]
|none
|Moderate
|-
|18. [[Ulysses S. Grant]]
|1869–1877
|[[Ohio]]
|[[Republican Party|Republican]]
|[[Schuyler Colfax|Colfax]], [[Henry Wilson|Wilson]]
|Moderate Right
|-
|19. [[Rutherford Hayes]]
|1877–1881
|[[Ohio]]
|[[Republican Party|Republican]]
|[[William A. Wheeler|Wheeler]]
|
|-
|20. [[James Garfield]]
|1881
|[[Ohio]]
|[[Republican Party|Republican]]
|[[Chester Arthur|Arthur]]
|
|-
|21. [[Chester Arthur]]
|1881–1885
|[[New York]]
|[[Republican Party|Republican]]
|none
|
|-
|22. [[Grover Cleveland]]
|1885–1889
|[[New York]]
|[[Democrat Party|Democrat]]
|[[Thomas Hendricks|Hendricks]]
|Right
|-
|23. [[Benjamin Harrison]]
|1889–1893
|[[Ohio]]
|[[Republican Party|Republican]]
|[[Levi P. Morton|Morton]]
|
|-
|24. [[Grover Cleveland]]
|1893–1897
|[[New York]]
|[[Democrat Party|Democrat]]
|[[Adlai Ewing Stevenson|Stevenson]]
|Right
|-
|25. [[William McKinley]]
|1897–1901
|[[Ohio]]
|[[Republican Party|Republican]]
|[[Garret Hobart|Hobart]], [[Theodore Roosevelt|Roosevelt]]
|
|-
|26. [[Theodore Roosevelt]]
|1901–1909
|[[New York]]
|[[Republican Party|Republican]]
|[[Charles Fairbanks|Fairbanks]]
|Center
|-
|27. [[William Taft]]
|1909–1913
|[[Ohio]]
|[[Republican Party|Republican]]
|[[James S. Sherman|Sherman]]
|Moderate Right
|-
|28. [[Woodrow Wilson]]
|1913–1921
|[[Virginia]]
|[[Democrat Party|Democrat]]
|[[Thomas R. Marshall|Marshall]]
|Left
|-
|29. [[Warren G. Harding]]
|1921–1923
|[[Ohio]]
|[[Republican Party|Republican]]
|[[Calvin Coolidge|Coolidge]]
|Right
|-
|30. [[Calvin Coolidge]]
|1923–1929
|[[Massachusetts]]
|[[Republican Party|Republican]]
|[[Charles Dawes|Dawes]]
|Right
|-
|31. [[Herbert Hoover]]
|1929–1933
|[[California]]
|[[Republican Party|Republican]]
|[[Charles Curtis|Curtis]]
|Center
|-
|32. [[Franklin Delano Roosevelt]]
|1933–1945
|[[New York]]
|[[Democrat Party|Democrat]]
|[[John Nance Garner|Garner]], [[Henry A. Wallace|Wallace]], [[Harry S. Truman|Truman]]
|Left
|-
|33. [[Harry S. Truman]]
|1945–1953
|[[Missouri]]
|[[Democrat Party|Democrat]]
|[[Alben Barkley|Barkley]]
|Moderate Left
|-
|34. [[Dwight David Eisenhower]]
|1953–1961
|[[Pennsylvania]]
|[[Republican Party|Republican]]
|[[Richard Nixon|Nixon]]
|Moderate Right
|-
|35. [[John Fitzgerald Kennedy]]
|1961–1963
|[[Massachusetts]]
|[[Democrat Party|Democrat]]
|[[Lyndon Baines Johnson|Johnson]]
|Moderate Left
|-
|36. [[Lyndon Baines Johnson]]
|1963–1969
|[[Texas]]
|[[Democrat Party|Democrat]]
|[[Hubert Humphrey|Humphrey]]
|Left
|-
|37. [[Richard Milhouse Nixon]]
|1969–1974
|[[California]]
|[[Republican Party|Republican]]
|[[Spiro Agnew|Agnew]], [[Gerald Ford|Ford]]
|Moderate Right
|-
|38. [[Gerald Ford]]
|1974–1977
|[[Nebraska]]
|[[Republican Party|Republican]]
|[[Nelson Aldrich Rockefeller|Rockefeller]]
|Moderate Right
|-
|39. [[Jimmy Carter]]
|1977–1981
|[[Georgia]]
|[[Democrat Party|Democrat]]
|[[Walter Mondale|Mondale]]
|Left
|-
|40. [[Ronald Wilson Reagan]]
|1981–1989
|[[California]]
|[[Republican Party|Republican]]
|[[George H. W. Bush|(H.W.) Bush]]
|Right
|-
|41. [[George Herbert Walker Bush]]
|1989–1993
|[[Texas]]
|[[Republican Party|Republican]]
|[[Dan Quayle|Quayle]]
|Moderate Right
|-
|42. [[Bill Clinton]]
|1993–2001
|[[Arkansas]]
|[[Democrat Party|Democrat]]
|[[Al Gore|Gore]]
|Left
|-
|43. [[George Walker Bush]]
|2001–2009
|[[Texas]]
|[[Republican Party|Republican]]
|[[Dick Cheney|Cheney]]
|Moderate Right
|-
|44. [[Barack Hussein Obama]]1
|2009–2017
|[[Illinois]]
|[[Democrat Party|Democrat]]
|[[Joseph Biden|Biden]]
|Left
|-
|45. [[Donald John Trump]]
|2017–2021/present
|[[New York]]
|[[Republican Party|Republican]]
|[[Mike Pence|Pence]]
|Right
|-
|46. [[Joseph Biden|Joseph Robinette Biden Jr.]]2
|2021-present (disputed)
|[[Delaware]]
|[[Democrat Party|Democrat]]
|[[Kamala Harris]]
|Far Left (Communist)
|-
|}

1 Due to massive amounts of voter fraud committed by the Democrats and their operatives in the [[United States Presidential Election, 2020|2020 election]], Biden is not considered by many as a legitimate "president".

==References==
<references />

{{USPresidents}}
[[Category:United States]]
[[Category:United States Elected Officials]]
[[Category:United States History]]

Soccer

2021-04-08T05:59:38Z

StarkGaryen:

[[Image:2010 World Cup.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Pictured is [[Miroslav Klose]], a star Polish-born player competing for the highly ranked German team, during the 2010 World Cup]]
'''Soccer''' is a sport played with a round ball generally played using the player's feet.
In soccer, players are not allowed to intentionally touch the ball with their hands or arms while it is in play, with the exception of goalkeepers in a penalty area. The object of the game is to kick the ball into the opposing team's goal; the team with the most goals at the end of the 90 minute game is the winner. If both teams at the end of two 45 minute periods are level on goals, the result is a draw, or the teams may rematch or play a period of extra time and penalty kicks to force a result.
Outside the USA, it is generally called "football" (Spanish: ''fútbol'').

Soccer is a popular sport for children and adults alike:
*As Stephen H. Webb wrote at First Things last year, to contemporary American parents, "Baseball is too intimidating, football too violent, and basketball takes too much time to develop the required skills ... Soccer is the perfect antidote to television and video games. It forces kids to run and run, and everyone can play their role, no matter how minor or irrelevant to the game."<ref name=media-goal />

It is rightfully the world's best and most popular sport.

==Origins==

The word ''soccer'' derived in England as slang for "Association Football",.<ref>[http://london.usembassy.gov/rss/transcripts/worldcup2006a.html] ''US Embassy, London''</ref> Football games have been popular in [[England]] since the [[Middle Ages]], but the modern game of soccer derives from formalizations of the rules during the mid nineteenth century which came from the universities of England. The [[Football Association]] (FA) was founded in 1863 and continues to be the game's governing body within the [[UK]]. "Association Football" (later shortened to soccer) meant the version of football approved by the Football Association's rules. The rules were published at [[Cambridge University]] in 1847, as many private schools were playing each other with different rules.

==Rules of the Game==
[[Image:Soccer pitch.gif|right|thumb|300px|left|Dimensions of a soccer pitch]]
The game is played between two teams of 11 players (10 out-field players and one goalkeeper each). In official play, there are two 45 [[minute]] halves separated by a break known as half-time which according to the rules of the game must last less than 20 minutes. Unlike most sports, the clock does not always stop when the ball is not in play. When the ball is knocked out of bounds or a penalty is committed, the clock runs continuously. If a player is injured then the [[referee]] makes up that lost time by adding minutes onto the end of the half. This is known as [[stoppage]] or injury time. If both scores are even at the end of regulation time, the game is usually declared a draw. However, in knockout cup games, there is often an additional period of play consisting of two 15-minute halves. In some competitions, the first goal in this period (golden goal) wins the game. If the scores are still level, the result is decided with a [[penalty shootout]]. The set of rules used in soccer are called the [[Laws of the Game]].

The game is played on a [[grass]] (or artificial grass) pitch with dimensions 90–120 m (100-130 yards) in length and 45–90 m (50-100 yards) in width.
<ref>[http://www.fifa.com/documents/fifa/laws/LOTG2006_e.pdf FIFA Laws of the Game 2006] ''Official FIFA website''</ref>
A goal is scored when the ball is propelled into the opposition net. The side scoring the most goals is the winner. Infringements include playing the ball with any part of the body other than the feet or head; pushing or blocking an opposing player and stepping outside the playing area while the ball is in play.

Accuracy in kicking is very important to make sure that one can kick the ball around opponents, manage it in tight spaces, and make long passes to other players in better positions. Expert players have trained to kick from a variety of angles, both forward and back and to the side, and also to use their chests and heads to maneuver a high-flying ball.

==Soccer Around the World==
[[Image:800px-Soccer goalkeeper.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Goalkeeper leaping to make a save]]
It is the most popular [[team sport]] in the world, described by the legendary Brazilian player, [[Pele]], as "The Beautiful Game". Its governing body is [[FIFA]] (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). In most countries it is the most popular sport or at least among the most popular (the [[United States]] being a notable exception). Though it is often not a high-scoring game, its popularity comes from the often dramatic saves from goalkeepers and incredible shots from skilled players in attempts to score a goal. In the United States soccer was associated with communism during the Thirties, as several communist organizations used soccer in an attempt to recruit recent European immigrants to their cause.

Every four years there is an international competition known as the [[World Cup]], where countries send their best players to compete for the title of best national soccer team. Every four years in Europe there is the European Championship in June and July when the leagues finish which is a 16 team competition for members of UEFA, the European governing body. Each other continent also has a competition, such as the African Nations Cup, which is every two years in January.

Many soccer fans are extremely passionate about their favorite teams, traveling to other countries to support them. Several countries have had problems controlling over-excited fans, with the crowd sometimes spilling onto the pitch, fighting with themselves, disliked referees and even players. [[England]] once had a poor reputation from its soccer [[hooligan]]s who got into drunken fistfights with fans of other teams. This situation has largely changed, with much better behavior at English football matches and considerably increased violence in several other countries, especially [[Italy]].

In most European countries each large town will have at least one football team who play in leagues, which last August to May in most of Europe but March to October in others. Unlike most American sports, the top teams in each league go up a league to be replaced by the last teams in the league above. The top teams in the top division of each European country enter the UEFA Champions League, a league and knockout competition played on Tuesdays and Wednesdays around the season.

==Great Players==

* [[Ferenc Puskas]], a forward for [[Real Madrid]] and [[Hungary]] in the 1950s, introduced 'total football' and destroyed the old-fashioned English team of the time.
* [[Lev Yashin]] of the USSR in the 1960s is reputed to be the best-ever goalkeeper.
* [[Pele]], [[Brazil]]ian player active from 1956-1974, often considered to be one of the greatest football players ever
* [[Alfredo di Stéfano]], [[Argentinia]]n midfielder who played for [[Real Madrid]]. considered by Maradona to be the greatest.
* [[Bobby Moore]], captain of England in the 1966 World Cup Finals and one of the finest ever centre-back.
* [[George Best]], of [[Manchester United]] and [[Northern Ireland]] in the 1960s, was possibly the best player never to have played in the World Cup Finals.
* [[Franz Beckenbauer]] played for [[West Germany]] in the 1960s and 70s. Defenders rarely gain the limelight in football but Beckenbauer's performances against the great teams of England in 1970 and Holland in 1974 were exceptional.
* [[Johann Cruyff]], captain of Holland in 1974 and 1978: why his Dutch team's brand of Total Football never won them the World Cup is an enduring mystery. Began the rebuilding of Barcelona when he became their manager and his ethos and style of play remains to this day.
* [[Diego Maradona]], [[Argentinia]]n midfielder of the 1980s, often mentioned alongside Pele as one of the greatest.
* [[Zinedine Zidane]], [[French]] player, he had won almost every trophy and competition his team had competed in. Retired shortly after headbutting an Italian a World Cup final match in 2006. Is the current manager of [[Real Madrid]] where he has lead them to back-to-back [[Champions League]] titles for the first time in the competition's history.
* [[Cristiano Ronaldo]], a [[Portuguese]] contemporary player for [[Real Madrid]]. Considered one of the all-time greats not just for [[Real Madrid]] but in all of football.
* [[Lionel Messi]], [[Argentina]]n forward, currently plays for [[Barcelona]], the [[World]]'s Greatest Soccer/Football Player EVER
* [[Claude Makélélé]], [[French]] holding midfield player. While not generally thought of as one of the best players of all time, his style of play revolutionised the midfield. Breaking up attacks, playing simple football and allowing the more attacking players to play without as many defensive duties.
* [[Gianluigi Buffon]], [[Italian]] goalkeeper who has played over 650 league games, played in 3 [[World Cup]]s (was selected for the 1998 World Cup but never played), and considered one of the best goalkeepers to have ever graced the game.
* [[George Weah]], [[Liberian]] striker who is regarded as one of the best players to have come from [[Africa]]. The first African player to be named World Player of the Year

==A note on terminology==
[[File:Coach Jurgen Klinsmann in 2008.JPG|thumb|Coach Jurgen Klinsmann.]]
{{football meaning}} In many other languages, a [[phonics|phonetic]] equivalent to the English word "football," such as the Portuguese word "futbol" is used to denote the sport. Calcio is the term used in Italy, as it is the Italian word for ''football''

==See also==
* [[Essay:Soccer and socialism]]
* [[Abby Wambach]]
* [[A-League]]
* [[British Inventions]]
* [[:Category:American Inventions]]
* [[:Category:British Inventions]]

[[Category:England]]
[[Category:Inventions]]
[[Category:British History]]
[[Category:British Inventions]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Links==
*[http://newsbusters.org/blogs/matthew-philbin/2010/06/09/media-make-selling-soccer-goal Media Make Selling Soccer a Goal]

[[Category:Sports]]
[[Category:Football Soccer]]
[[Category:Soccer]]

Soccer

2021-04-08T05:56:35Z

StarkGaryen:

[[Image:2010 World Cup.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Pictured is [[Miroslav Klose]], a star Polish-born player competing for the highly ranked German team, during the 2010 World Cup]]
'''Soccer''' is a sport played with a round ball generally played using the player's feet.
In soccer, players are not allowed to intentionally touch the ball with their hands or arms while it is in play, with the exception of goalkeepers in a penalty area. The object of the game is to kick the ball into the opposing team's goal; the team with the most goals at the end of the 90 minute game is the winner. If both teams at the end of two 45 minute periods are level on goals, the result is a draw, or the teams may rematch or play a period of extra time and penalty kicks to force a result.
Outside the USA, it is generally called "football" (Spanish: ''fútbol'').

Soccer is a popular sport for children and adults alike:
*As Stephen H. Webb wrote at First Things last year, to contemporary American parents, "Baseball is too intimidating, football too violent, and basketball takes too much time to develop the required skills ... Soccer is the perfect antidote to television and video games. It forces kids to run and run, and everyone can play their role, no matter how minor or irrelevant to the game."<ref name=media-goal />

It is rightfully the world's best and most popular sport.

==Origins==

The word ''soccer'' derived in England as slang for "Association Football",.<ref>[http://london.usembassy.gov/rss/transcripts/worldcup2006a.html] ''US Embassy, London''</ref> Football games have been popular in [[England]] since the [[Middle Ages]], but the modern game of soccer derives from formalizations of the rules during the mid nineteenth century which came from the universities of England. The [[Football Association]] (FA) was founded in 1863 and continues to be the game's governing body within the [[UK]]. "Association Football" (later shortened to soccer) meant the version of football approved by the Football Association's rules. The rules were published at [[Cambridge University]] in 1847, as many private schools were playing each other with different rules.

==Rules of the Game==
[[Image:Soccer pitch.gif|right|thumb|300px|left|Dimensions of a soccer pitch]]
The game is played between two teams of 11 players (10 out-field players and one goalkeeper each). In official play, there are two 45 [[minute]] halves separated by a break known as half-time which according to the rules of the game must last less than 20 minutes. Unlike most sports, the clock does not always stop when the ball is not in play. When the ball is knocked out of bounds or a penalty is committed, the clock runs continuously. If a player is injured then the [[referee]] makes up that lost time by adding minutes onto the end of the half. This is known as [[stoppage]] or injury time. If both scores are even at the end of regulation time, the game is usually declared a draw. However, in knockout cup games, there is often an additional period of play consisting of two 15-minute halves. In some competitions, the first goal in this period (golden goal) wins the game. If the scores are still level, the result is decided with a [[penalty shootout]]. The set of rules used in soccer are called the [[Laws of the Game]].

The game is played on a [[grass]] (or artificial grass) pitch with dimensions 90–120 m (100-130 yards) in length and 45–90 m (50-100 yards) in width.
<ref>[http://www.fifa.com/documents/fifa/laws/LOTG2006_e.pdf FIFA Laws of the Game 2006] ''Official FIFA website''</ref>
A goal is scored when the ball is propelled into the opposition net. The side scoring the most goals is the winner. Infringements include playing the ball with any part of the body other than the feet or head; pushing or blocking an opposing player and stepping outside the playing area while the ball is in play.

Accuracy in kicking is very important to make sure that one can kick the ball around opponents, manage it in tight spaces, and make long passes to other players in better positions. Expert players have trained to kick from a variety of angles, both forward and back and to the side, and also to use their chests and heads to maneuver a high-flying ball.

==Soccer Around the World==
[[Image:800px-Soccer goalkeeper.jpg|right|thumb|300px|Goalkeeper leaping to make a save]]
It is the most popular [[team sport]] in the world, described by the legendary Brazilian player, [[Pele]], as "The Beautiful Game". Its governing body is [[FIFA]] (Fédération Internationale de Football Association). In most countries it is the most popular sport or at least among the most popular (the [[United States]] being a notable exception). Though it is often not a high-scoring game, its popularity comes from the often dramatic saves from goalkeepers and incredible shots from skilled players in attempts to score a goal. In the United States soccer was associated with communism during the Thirties, as several communist organizations used soccer in an attempt to recruit recent European immigrants to their cause.

Every four years there is an international competition known as the [[World Cup]], where countries send their best players to compete for the title of best national soccer team. Every four years in Europe there is the European Championship in June and July when the leagues finish which is a 16 team competition for members of UEFA, the European governing body. Each other continent also has a competition, such as the African Nations Cup, which is every two years in January.

Many soccer fans are extremely passionate about their favorite teams, traveling to other countries to support them. Several countries have had problems controlling over-excited fans, with the crowd sometimes spilling onto the pitch, fighting with themselves, disliked referees and even players. [[England]] once had a poor reputation from its soccer [[hooligan]]s who got into drunken fistfights with fans of other teams. This situation has largely changed, with much better behavior at English football matches and considerably increased violence in several other countries, especially [[Italy]].

In most European countries each large town will have at least one football team who play in leagues, which last August to May in most of Europe but March to October in others. Unlike most American sports, the top teams in each league go up a league to be replaced by the last teams in the league above. The top teams in the top division of each European country enter the UEFA Champions League, a league and knockout competition played on Tuesdays and Wednesdays around the season.

==Diving (Cheating)==

Soccer is well known as a sport for cheats. Players will often exaggerate or completely fake infringements or injuries in order to win penalty kicks. While there are penalties for deliberately faking a fall, the benefits far outweigh the risks in such a low-scoring game and players are encouraged by their coaches and fans to try and win un-just free kicks. There have been numerous highly controversial instances of high level games being decided by such acts, such as the recent opening game of the 2014 World Cup.

==Great Players==

* [[Ferenc Puskas]], a forward for [[Real Madrid]] and [[Hungary]] in the 1950s, introduced 'total football' and destroyed the old-fashioned English team of the time.
* [[Lev Yashin]] of the USSR in the 1960s is reputed to be the best-ever goalkeeper.
* [[Pele]], [[Brazil]]ian player active from 1956-1974, often considered to be the greatest soccer player to ever kick the ball.
* [[Alfredo di Stéfano]], [[Argentinia]]n midfielder who played for [[Real Madrid]]. considered by Maradona to be the greatest.
* [[Bobby Moore]], captain of England in the 1966 World Cup Finals and one of the finest ever centre-back.
* [[George Best]], of [[Manchester United]] and [[Northern Ireland]] in the 1960s, was possibly the best player never to have played in the World Cup Finals.
* [[Franz Beckenbauer]] played for [[West Germany]] in the 1960s and 70s. Defenders rarely gain the limelight in football but Beckenbauer's performances against the great teams of England in 1970 and Holland in 1974 were exceptional.
* [[Johann Cruyff]], captain of Holland in 1974 and 1978: why his Dutch team's brand of Total Football never won them the World Cup is an enduring mystery. Began the rebuilding of Barcelona when he became their manager and his ethos and style of play remains to this day.
* [[Diego Maradona]], [[Argentinia]]n midfielder of the 1980s, often mentioned alongside Pele as one of the greatest.
* [[Zinedine Zidane]], [[French]] player, he had won almost every trophy and competition his team had competed in. Retired shortly after headbutting an Italian a World Cup final match in 2006. Is the current manager of [[Real Madrid]] where he has lead them to back-to-back [[Champions League]] titles for the first time in the competition's history.
* [[Cristiano Ronaldo]], a [[Portuguese]] contemporary player for [[Real Madrid]]. Considered one of the all-time greats not just for [[Real Madrid]] but in all of football.
* [[Lionel Messi]], [[Argentina]]n forward, currently plays for [[Barcelona]].
* [[Claude Makélélé]], [[French]] holding midfield player. While not generally thought of as one of the best players of all time, his style of play revolutionised the midfield. Breaking up attacks, playing simple football and allowing the more attacking players to play without as many defensive duties.
* [[Gianluigi Buffon]], [[Italian]] goalkeeper who has played over 650 league games, played in 3 [[World Cup]]s (was selected for the 1998 World Cup but never played), and considered one of the best goalkeepers to have ever graced the game.
* [[George Weah]], [[Liberian]] striker who is regarded as one of the best players to have come from [[Africa]]. The first African player to be named World Player of the Year.

==Criticisms==

[[Matthew Philbin]] faults the media for using soccer to undercut [[American exceptionalism]] and muses:

* Soccer requires comparatively little from children but the ability to run after the ball - the risk of failure for anyone except maybe the goal keeper is zero. Even the strong chance that any given game will end in a tie makes it attractive for parents reluctant to impart life's difficult lessons to young kids.<ref name=media-goal>[http://newsbusters.org/blogs/matthew-philbin/2010/06/09/media-make-selling-soccer-goal#ixzz2gO2g6g35 Media Make Selling Soccer a Goal] - Matthew Philbin - June 9, 2010</ref>

==A note on terminology==
[[File:Coach Jurgen Klinsmann in 2008.JPG|thumb|Coach Jurgen Klinsmann.]]
{{football meaning}} In many other languages, a [[phonics|phonetic]] equivalent to the English word "football," such as the Portuguese word "futbol" is used to denote the sport. Calcio is the term used in Italy, as it is the Italian word for ''football''

==See also==
* [[Essay:Soccer and socialism]]
* [[Abby Wambach]]
* [[A-League]]
* [[British Inventions]]
* [[:Category:American Inventions]]
* [[:Category:British Inventions]]

[[Category:England]]
[[Category:Inventions]]
[[Category:British History]]
[[Category:British Inventions]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Links==
*[http://newsbusters.org/blogs/matthew-philbin/2010/06/09/media-make-selling-soccer-goal Media Make Selling Soccer a Goal]

[[Category:Sports]]
[[Category:Football Soccer]]
[[Category:Soccer]]

Great Britain

2021-04-08T05:11:11Z

StarkGaryen:

[[File:Great Britain (orthographic projection).svg.png|thumbnail|right|200px|Great Britain]]
'''Great Britain''' is a [[Europe]]an island consisting of [[England]], [[Scotland]], and [[Wales]], all of which send representatives to the Parliament of the [[United Kingdom]]. The "United Kingdom" consists of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. "Great Britain" also has a purely geographic meaning, as the largest [[island]] of the [[British Isles]]. The term was first used during the [[Middle Ages]] to differentiate between the island of Britain and [[Brittany]] (''Little Britain'' - ''Britannia Minor'') in what is now France, which was a haven for Celtic peoples (''Britons'') fleeing the Germanic incursions beginning in the 5th and 6th centuries.

Once the greatest nation in the world (from about 1815 to 1915), Great Britain has been nearly destroyed from within by [[atheism]] and [[socialism]], traceable to infiltration by communist spies from the [[Soviet Union]] and the insane actions of the [[Labour Party]]. Today Great Britain is a mere shadow of her former self. Illustrations of its pathetic current state include:

* A Christian physician has been fired "for emailing prayer to colleagues. ... He was finally dismissed after he queried the order not to use [[religious]] language in professional communications 'verbal or written.'"<ref>https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/religion/9171982/Doctor-claims-he-was-dismissed-for-emailing-prayer-to-colleagues.html</ref>

* A Devout Christian nurse was forced to resign after an employment tribunal ruled that [[National Health Service]] bosses were correct to ban her from wearing a necklace with a small crucifix which she considered to be a personal faith item.<ref>https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1263985/Shirley-Chaplin-Crucifix-row-nurse-loses-discrimination-case.html</ref>

* In the land of Shakespeare and Dickens, an erotic novel is now the best selling book in Britain since records began. 50 Shades of Grey by EL James is the story of a virginal heroine who falls for a bondage-loving billionaire and features gratuitous sex scenes throughout.<ref>https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/booknews/9459779/50-Shades-of-Grey-is-best-selling-book-of-all-time.html</ref>

*Great Britain's roads are in disrepair beyond belief, a symbol of its declining culture and productivity. "Britain's roads worse than poorer countries including [[Namibia]] and [[Ecuador]], shocking report reveals."<ref>https://www.standard.co.uk/news/transport/britains-roads-are-worse-than-in-some-poorer-countries-shocking-report-reveals-a3472861.html</ref>

The [[Population]] of the island of Great Britain is estimated at 60.5 million in 2010, which is 97% of the population of the UK.<ref>This includes surrounding small islands and islets that also comprise England, Scotland, and Wales. From the UK Office for National Statistics. "National Population Projections 2010-based Statistical Bulletin." October 26, 2011. http://ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171778_235886.pdf</ref> The island has an area of approximately 88,745 square miles<ref>Taylor, Nick. "The British Isles and all that..." Accessed April 2012. School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh. http://www.macs.hw.ac.uk/britishisles/</ref> - about the size of [[Minnesota]] - making it the 9th largest island in the world. The topography of the island is characterized by rolling countryside and scattered forests of low elevation in the South and East, with larger hills and mountains in the North and West.

== See also ==

* [[Kingdom of Great Britain]] (historical)
* [[Margaret Thatcher]]
* [[Act of Union (Scotland)]]
* [[Act of Union (Ireland)]]
== References ==
<references/>

[[Category:Islands]]

Lost Cause of the Confederacy

2021-04-08T05:05:46Z

StarkGaryen:

The Lost Cause of the Confederacy (Or simply the Lost Cause), is a view of the American Civil War, that the Confederacy's reason for secession were Good, and Just.

Believers of the Lost Cause are usually referred to as "Lost Causers".

Reasons these misguided fools give for why the south seceded vary but the most common one is usually States' Rights.

George W. Bush

2021-04-07T17:46:37Z

StarkGaryen:

{{Officeholder
|name=George Walker Bush
|image=George_w_bush.jpeg
|party=Republican
|spouse=Laura Bush
|religion=[[United Methodist]]
|offices=
{{Officeholder/president
|country=the United States
|number=43rd
|terms=January 20, 2001 – January 20, 2009
|vp=[[Dick Cheney]]
|preceded=[[Bill Clinton]]
|former=y
|succeeded=[[Barack Obama]]
}}
{{Officeholder/governor
|number=46th
|state=Texas
|terms=January 17, 1995 – December 21, 2000
|preceded=[[Ann Richards]]
|former=y
|succeeded=[[Rick Perry]]
}}
}}
'''George Walker Bush''' (born New Haven, [[Connecticut]] 1946) was the Governor of [[Texas]] (1995–2000) and served as the 43rd [[President of the United States of America]] from 2001 to 2009. Campaigning on a theme of "[[compassionate conservatism]]" and promising "to restore honor and dignity" to the office of President after the Clinton years,<ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9507E3DC153FF931A2575BC0A9669C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all THE 2000 CAMPAIGN: THE TEXAS GOVERNOR; Bush Calls on Gore to Denounce Clinton Affair,] By Frank Bruni, [[The New York Times]]'', August 12, 2000.</ref> he won the office by a narrow margin in the decisive State of [[Florida]] in the [[United States presidential election, 2000|2000 Presidential election]]. Legal challenges to the certified vote count went all the way to the [[U.S. Supreme Court]] when [[liberal]] [[Democrat]]ic contender [[Al Gore]] contested the outcome for weeks until the Supreme Court case ''[[Bush v. Gore]]''. But when [[Republican]] [[Donald Trump]] faced a similar situation in 2020, Bush pandered to the [[liberal media]] by calling [[Joe Biden]] to congratulate him on his fake victory.<ref>https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/nov/8/george-w-bush-congratulates-joe-biden/</ref> Bush was also stingy and slow in his pardons, and declined a special written request by [[Boris Spassky]] to drop a tyrannical federal attempt to extradite [[Bobby Fischer]] on [[globalist]] charges of playing harmless [[chess]] in a disfavored country in violation of so-called international law.<ref>[https://www.foxnews.com/story/chess-champ-spassky-urges-mercy-for-fischer] Bush's attempt to extradite Bobby Fischer from [[Japan]] was ultimately unsuccessful as [[Iceland]] granted him asylum.</ref>

In the [[United States presidential election, 2004|2004 Presidential election]] Bush won re-election, helped in part by a 300,000 vote victory (5%) in the State of Florida, where the outcome had been so close in 2000.<ref>[http://election.dos.state.fl.us/elections/resultsarchive/SummaryRpt.asp?ElectionDate=11/2/2004&Race=PRE&DATAMODE= Florida Election Records], ''[[Florida Dept. of State]]''</ref> [[Leftist]] Democratic candidate [[John Kerry]] conceded defeat the day after the election.

When the Bushes entered wars in the Middle East, it was the first time since [[William McKinley]] that a Republican party administration involved the United States in major armed conflicts. Bush's presidency was defined by [[foreign policy]] because of the [[September 11, 2001 attacks|September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks]], which eventually resulted in the attacks onto the countries of [[Iraq]] and [[Afghanistan]]. Bush named two conservatives to the Supreme Court. He reformed K12 education with a major new program, [[No Child Left Behind]], and pushed a series of major tax cuts through Congress. Conservatives cheered. All this happened in his first term, aiding his easy reelection. In addition, he engineered two government rebate checks, giving back to the people. Average unemployment over eight-years of the [[Bush Administration]] was 5.3%.<ref>[http://scottstanzel.com/2010/06/04/unemployment-rate-during-president-bush/ Scottstanzel.com, Unemployment During President George W. Bush’s Two Terms]</ref>
His performance in dealing with [[Hurricane Katrina]] in 2005 was widely ridiculed, though some Republicans argued that local Democrats did an even worse job.
As the [[Financial Crisis of 2008]] smashed into the banking system and the nation plunged into the [[Recession of 2008]], Bush responded by proposing a massive aid program of $700 billion to banks, and loan guarantees amounting to the trillions of dollars. Conservatives were dismayed as he proposed a traditional [[Keynesian]] [[stimulus]] which Democrats lauded. Above all, he made one of the most dramatic federal interventions in American history by his aid to the financial system. Bruce Bartlett, a Republican economist, says, "Bush clearly is not a Reaganite or "small 'c' conservative."

Conservatives and [[libertarian]]s have criticized Bush for greatly increased domestic spending, creating a new entitlement program for prescription drugs, failing to veto a single bill before mid-2006, pursuing [[globalist]] policies, and expanding both the size and scope of government including federal regulations. In addition, many of his nominees to federal and even some judicial positions were liberals. Many of these officials, as well as Bush himself, opposed [[Donald Trump]] successful campaign for president in 2016. Supporters counter that he made extremely difficult decisions under extraordinary circumstances and that he was a man with convictions that did not cower from protecting America.<ref>See www.honorfreedom.com</ref> Unlike any president before him, he was subjected to an all-out attack by the [[Islamic terrorism|Islamic terrorist]] group Al-Qaeda. Bush's last year in office was a combination of Democrat [[Alinsky]] tactics and abandonment by his own Republican party. Lobbyists and Congress contributed greatly to the collapsing financial markets. Mistakes, questionable interests, Federal Reserve lack of transparency, Liberal Media, Unions, Homeland Security and one might understand why the Bush team faltered, they were in over their heads.

==Early life==
[[Image:Bushfamily.JPG|left|thumb|275px|George W. Bush and his family in 1981]] George W. Bush was born on July 6, 1946, in New Haven, [[Connecticut]], and grew up in Midland and Houston, Texas.<ref>[https://www.whitehouse.gov/1600/presidents/georgewbush Biography], [[White House]]</ref> He joined [[Delta Kappa Epsilon]] [[fraternity]] at Yale. He earned a BA in history from [[Yale University]] and attended [[Harvard]] Business School as well. He later served in the [[Air National Guard|Texas Air National Guard]] as an F-102 Delta Dagger pilot. Bush grew up around politics, as his father [[George H. W. Bush]] had been a member of the [[U.S. House of Representatives]], American Ambassador to the [[United Nations]], Director of the [[Central Intelligence Agency]] (CIA) and [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] of the United States under President [[Ronald Reagan]]. In 1988, George W. Bush worked for his father's successful presidential campaign. Afterward Bush purchased the Texas Rangers [[baseball]] franchise.

==Governor of Texas==
Bush declared his candidacy for Governor of Texas in 1994. He defeated incumbent [[Democrat]] Governor [[Ann Richards]] 53.5 percent to 45.9 percent. Bush advocated and signed the two largest tax cuts to date in Texas history, totaling over $3 billion.<ref>[http://www.lib.utexas.edu/taro/tslac/40078/tsl-40078.html An Introduction to Governor George W. Bush Records Located at the George W. Bush Presidential Library]</ref> He supported and signed legislation emphasizing local control of [[school]]s, higher standards, and a revised curriculum. Bush was easily reelected Governor in 1998.

==2000 Presidential Campaign==
{{Main|United States presidential election, 2000}}

The Republican nominee for the 2000 Presidential nomination came down to Texas Governor George W. Bush and [[Arizona]] Senator [[John McCain]], a maverick Republican and ex-POW. Most social conservatives endorsed Bush. Despite early primary wins in [[New Hampshire]] and [[Michigan]] for McCain, Bush eventually won after sweeping 9 out of the 13 states on Super Tuesday. McCain withdrew in March after a bitter primary fight. Bush then chose former U.S. Defense Secretary [[Richard Cheney]] as his running mate. Vice President [[Al Gore]] was the Democratic nominee. Consumer Advocate [[Ralph Nader]], a strong supporter of [[environment]]al protection and critic of large corporations entered the race in the [[United States Green Party|green party]].

In a historically close race, Gore edged out Bush in the popular vote 48.4 percent to 47.9 percent. However, Bush won the majority of electoral votes, 271 to 266, because of Bush's victory in Florida, winning its 25 electoral votes that both candidates desperately needed. The race in Florida was so close that state law required a recount of the ballots. There were, however, thousands of thrown out ballots that were discredited because the counting machines could not discern them. After the machine recounts still showed Bush ahead, Gore asked for a hand recount of ballots in counties that favored Democrats. On November 26, Florida officials certified that Bush won the state of Florida by 537 votes. Gore conceded December 13.

==2004 Reelection Campaign==
{{Main|United States presidential election, 2004}}

In President Bush's reelection campaign in 2004, [[national security]], the invasion of Iraq and social issues dominated the campaign. The Democrat nominee was [[Massachusetts]] Senator [[John Kerry]]. Bush won the popular vote, 51% to 48%. With 120 million Americans voting (15 million more than in 2000) Bush received more votes than any other presidential candidate in history. Among the swing states, Kerry took [[Pennsylvania]], [[New Hampshire]], [[Michigan]], [[Minnesota]], [[Wisconsin]] and [[Oregon]], while Bush took [[Ohio]], [[Florida]], [[Missouri]], [[Iowa]], [[Colorado]], [[New Mexico]], and [[Nevada]].<ref>[http://elections.nytimes.com/2008/results/president/map.html Election Results 2008], [[The New York Times]]</ref>

Republicans also picked up seats in both chambers of [[Congress]].

==Presidency (2001–2009)==

In foreign and security areas, Bush's terms included the 9-11 terrorist attack, the passage of the PATRIOT Act, the invasion of Afghanistan (2001–present) and Iraq (2003-present), the expansion of NATO to the Russian border, financial aid to fight disease (especially AIDS) in Africa, and improved relations with India. The Iraq war was the focus of intense partisan debate. While Bush had numerous domestic policy goals during his 2000 presidential campaign, the 9-11 attacks and their aftermath caused him to abandon much of it.<ref>Milbank, Dana (September 2, 2004). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A54556-2004Sep1.html From His 'Great Goals' of 2000, President's Achievements Mixed]. ''The Washington Post''. Retrieved October 22, 2017.</ref>

The 2002 midterm election saw a GOP gain of seats in the House of Representatives and governorships, However, the 2006 elections showed sharp GOP losses across the board and loss of control of the House for the first time since its capture in 1994. He played a minor role in the 2008 election, which the GOP lost.

In domestic legislation, he partnered with Sen. [[Ted Kennedy]] to pass the No Child Left Behind education act, and tried—but failed—to pass immigration reform. Early on he secured large-scale tax cuts, which helped the economic recovery in 2002. The boom (and later collapse) in real estate boosted the economy then pulled it down. Liberals criticized his handling of the 2005 Hurricane Katrina relief, and the dismissals of U.S. Attorneys for political reasons. His proposed "Vision for Space Exploration" went nowhere, and he failed to make headway in Social Security reform. His record of court nominations is mixed, having nominated some strong conservatives along with moderates and liberals. Bush Administration became the most regulating Administration since the Nixon Administration.<ref name="Regulations"/>

The Iraq War had several negative consequences for the United States.<ref>Hayward, John (October 19, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/10/19/9-terrible-legacies-of-george-w-bush-and-the-iraq-war/ 9 Terrible Legacies of George W. Bush and the Iraq War]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved October 22, 2017.</ref> In 2019, conservative [[Trump Administration]] advisor [[Stephen Miller]] described Bush's liberal immigration policies as "an astonishing betrayal of the American people."<ref>Key, Pam (February 17, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2019/02/17/stephen-miller-george-w-bushs-immigration-record-astonishing-betrayal-of-american-people/ Stephen Miller: George W. Bush’s Immigration Record ‘Astonishing Betrayal’ of American People]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved February 18, 2019.</ref><ref>Samuels, Brett (February 17, 2019). [https://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/430391-stephen-miller-calls-george-w-bushs-immigration-record-astonishing Stephen Miller calls George W. Bush's immigration record 'astonishing betrayal' of American people]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved February 18, 2019.</ref>

===Administration and Cabinet===

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Office
! Name
! Term
|-
| [[President]]
| George W. Bush
| 2001–2009
|-
| [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]]
| [[Richard Cheney]]
| 2001–2009
|-
| [[Secretary of State]]
| [[Colin Powell]]
| 2001–2005
|-
|
| [[Condoleezza Rice]]
| 2005–2009
|-
| [[Secretary of Treasury]]
| [[Paul O'Neill]]
| 2001–2002
|-
|
| [[John W. Snow]]
| 2003–2006
|-
|
| [[Henry Paulson]]
| 2006–2009
|-
| [[Secretary of Defense]]
| [[Donald Rumsfeld]]
| 2001–2006
|-
|
| [[Robert Gates]]
| 2006–2009
|-
| [[Attorney General]]
| [[John Ashcroft]]
| 2001–2005
|-
|
| [[Alberto Gonzales]]
| 2005–2007
|-
|
| [[Michael Mukasey]]
| 2007–2009
|-
| Secretary of the Interior
| [[Gale Norton]]
| 2001–2006
|-
|
| [[Dirk Kempthorne]]
| 2006–2009
|-
| Secretary of Agriculture
| [[Ann Veneman]]
| 2001–2005
|-
|
| [[Mike Johanns]]
| 2005–2007
|-
|
| [[Ed Schafer]]
| 2008–2009
|-
| Secretary of Commerce
| [[Donald Evans]]
| 2001–2005
|-
|
| [[Carlos Gutierrez]]
| 2005–2009
|-
| Secretary of Labor
| [[Elaine Chao]]
| 2001–2009
|-
| Secretary of Health and Human Services
| [[Tommy Thompson]]
| 2001–2005
|-
|
| [[Michael Leavitt]]
| 2005–2009
|-
| Secretary of Education
| [[Rod Paige]]
| 2001–2005
|-
|
| [[Margaret Spellings]]
| 2005–2009
|-
| Secretary of Housing and Urban Development
| [[Mel Martinez]]
| 2001–2003
|-
|
| [[Alphonso Jackson]]
| 2003–2008
|-
|
| [[Steve Preston]]
| 2008–2009
|-
| Secretary of Transportation
| [[Norman Mineta]]
| 2001–2006
|-
|
| [[Mary Peters]]
| 2006–2009
|-
| Secretary of Energy
| [[Spencer Abraham]]
| 2001–2005
|-
|
| [[Samuel Bodman]]
| 2005–2009
|-
| Secretary of Veterans Affairs
| [[Anthony Principi]]
| 2001–2005
|-
|
| [[Jim Nicholson]]
| 2005–2007
|-
|
| [[James Peake]]
| 2007–2009
|-
| Secretary of Homeland Security
| [[Tom Ridge]]
| 2003–2005
|-
|
| [[Michael Chertoff]]
| 2005–2009
|-
| Chief of Staff
| [[Andrew Card]]
| 2001–2006
|-
|
| [[Joshua Bolten]]
| 2006–2009
|-
| Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency
| [[Christine Todd Whitman]]
| 2001–2003
|-
|
| [[Michael Leavitt]]
| 2003–2005
|-
|
| [[Stephen Johnson]]
| 2005–2009
|-
| Director of the Office of Management and Budget
| [[Mitch Daniels]]
| 2001–2003
|-
|
| Joshua Bolten
| 2003–2006
|-
|
| [[Rob Portman]]
| 2006–2007
|-
|
| [[Jim Nussle]]
| 2007–2009
|-
| Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy
| [[John Walters]]
| 2001–2009
|-
| United States Trade Representative
| [[Robert Zoellick]]
| 2001–2005
|-
|
| Rob Portman
| 2005–2006
|-
|
| Susan Schwab
| 2006–2009
|-
| [[CIA]] Director
| [[George Tenet]]
| 2001–2004
|-
|
| [[John E. McLaughlin]]
| 2004
|-
|
| [[Porter J. Goss]]
| 2004–2006
|-
|
| [[Michael Hayden]]
| 2006–2009
|-
| FBI Director
| [[Louis Freeh]]
| 2001
|-
|
| [[Thomas J. Pickard]]
| 2001
|-
|
| [[Robert S. Mueller]]
| 2001–2009
|-
| National Security Advisor
| Condoleezza Rice
| 2001–2005
|-
|
| Stephen Hadley
| 2005–2009
|-
| White House Counsel
| Alberto R. Gonzales
| 2001–2005
|-
|
| [[Harriet Miers]]
| 2005–2007
|-
|
| [[Fred Fielding]]
| 2007–2009
|-
| White House Press Secretary
| [[Ari Fleischer]]
| 2001–2003
|-
|
| [[Scott McClellan]]
| 2003–2006
|-
|
| [[Tony Snow]]
| 2006–2007
|-
|
| [[Dana Perino]]
| 2007–2009
|-
|}

===Response to the 9-11 Terrorist Attacks===
The September 11, 2001, Terrorist Attacks resulted in George W. Bush becoming a self-described wartime President. On that morning President Bush had traveled to Booker Elementary School in Sarasota, [[Florida]] to promote his [[education]]al agenda; when 19 Islamic terrorists connected with [[Al-Qaeda]] hijacked four commercial airplanes. Two of them crashed into the [[World Trade Center]] in [[New York City]], the third in [[The Pentagon]] in [[Washington, D.C.]] and the fourth in Somerset County, [[Pennsylvania]], after passengers of the flight successfully stopped the hijackers from hitting Washington D.C., possibly the [[White House]] or [[Capital]]. As a result, over 3,000 Americans were killed, and over 6,000 injured, the largest terrorist attack in American history. After [[White House]] Chief of Staff [[Andrew Card]] had whispered in the President's ear that the United States was under attack, President Bush addressed the public in the Booker school's media center, saying a brief four-paragraph statement that "Terrorism against our nation will not stand. This will not stand." Which was a formation that President George H. W. Bush used in August 1990 after [[Iraq]] invaded [[Kuwait]]. President Bush would later say that "This is my reminder of lives that ended, and a task that does not end. . . . I will not yield; I will not rest; I will not relent in waging this struggle for freedom and security for the American people."

[[Image:20010912-4-1.jpg|left|thumb|300px|President George W. Bush, Secretary of State Colin Powell, Vice President [[Dick Cheney]] and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Hugh Shelton, talk with the press about the previous day's terrorist attacks during a cabinet meeting Sept. 12, 2001. White House photo by Tina Hager.]] Although the attacks may have been an attempt from Al-Qaeda to divide the United States, they were unsuccessful. Across the nation, Americans had donated blood and raised money for reconstruction in New York City. Within weeks, Americans had raised over one billion dollars.<ref>The American Vision from National Geographic, pg. 1033</ref> On September 14 President Bush declared a national emergency. [[CIA]] Director [[George Tenent]] and the FBI identified the attacks from Al-Qaeda and [[Osama Bin Laden]] in [[Afghanistan]]. As [[Secretary of State]] [[Colin Powell]] begin to build an international coalition with over 90 countries to support the United States global [[War on Terrorism]], [[Secretary of Defense]] [[Donald Rumsfeld]] began to redeploy troops and aircraft's to the [[Middle East]]. On September 24, President Bush issued an executive order freezing all funding of financial assets to individuals and groups suspected of terrorism, and over 80 other nations soon followed. Bush then established the Department of Homeland Security to coordinate federal agencies working to prevent terrorism. The President appointed [[Pennsylvania]] [[Governor]] [[Tom Ridge]] to the office. In October President Bush signed into law the U.S. [[Patriot Act]], which allowed authorities to obtain a signal nationwide search warrant that could be used anywhere on suspected terrorists. It also made it easier to wiretap terrorists and track their [[email]]. The mastermind of the 9/11 attacks—[[Khalid Sheikh Mohammed]] has been captured.

On October 5, a new [[anthrax]] scare from terrorists began. Anthrax—a deadly bacteria—had been sent in the mail to news organizations in New York City and Washington, D.C. and [[United States Senate|Senate]] Majority Leader [[Tom Daschle]]'s office. The FBI investigated the anthrax attacks, although no suspects were identified.

===War in Afghanistan===
*''Main Article: [[Afghanistan War]]
Afghanistan housed and protected al-Qaeda as it planned the 9-11 attacks. It then refused to turn over al-Qaeda leaders. With UN and NATO approval, Bush went to war to overthrow the Taliban. On October 7, 2001, he ordered the bombing of al-Qaeda's camps and the [[Taliban]]'s military forces in Afghanistan. "We will not waver, we will not tire, we will not falter, we will not fail, freedom will prevail", President Bush explained. The attack quickly shattered the [[Taliban]]'s defenses, and by early December the Taliban regime had collapsed. The United States, its allies and the UN then helped Afghanistan create a new government under [[Hamid Karzai]]. By March 2002, the Taliban and al-Qaeda were beginning to regroup again in the mountains of the [[Pakistan]] border. President Bush responded by launching Operation Anaconda, where Al-Qaeda troops were defeated. Al-Qaeda was largely destroyed, but the Taliban rebuilt using secure sanctuaries in Pakistan from which it launched terror attacks inside Afghanistan (and inside Pakistan as well).<ref>Fred Barnes, ''Rebel-in-Chief: Inside the Bold and Controversial Presidency of George W. Bush'' (2006); Seth Jones, ''In the Graveyard of Empires: America's War in Afghanistan'' (2009)</ref>

As a candidate in 2008, Obama criticized Bush for neglecting Afghanistan, and tripled the number of American troops from 31,000 when Bush left office to over 100,000 in early 2010

===2002 Mid-Term Elections===

Democrats wanted the focus of the 2002 midterm elections to be on the [[economy]], which was growing slowly after the September 11th terrorist attacks. However, because Congress voted to authorize military force in Iraq in mid-October, national security was the top issue. Republicans increased their majority in the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] and took back control of the [[United States Senate]].

===2002-2003 build-up of the War in Iraq===
In his famous January 2002 State of the Union speech, President Bush declared an "Axis of Evil" made up of [[Iraq]], [[Iran]], and [[North Korea]], countries that posed a grave threat to the world and were suspected of supporting terrorism. Considering it a more dangerous and urgent threat then North Korea, President Bush began putting pressure on Iraq throughout 2002 for a regime [[change]]. Iraq's dictator [[Saddam Hussein]] had used chemical weapons against Iran and the Kurds, an ethnic minority in Iraq. Considering that Iraq may have been building Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD's) and was a threat to the United States and its allies, On September 12, 2002 President Bush tried to gain U.N. support for a U.S. led invasion of Iraq and asked for a resolution that Iraq gave up its Weapons of Mass Destruction. While the U.N. Security Council approved a resolution that demanded Saddam Hussein declare all of its WMD's, stop supporting terrorism and oppressing his people, Congress authorized the use of military force against Iraq. The United States, [[Great Britain]] and about 30 other countries began to prepare for war.

===Aftermath of the Invasion===
[[Image:20031127_dsc2048-515h.jpg|Right|thumb|300px|President George W. Bush meets with troops and serves Thanksgiving Dinner at the Bob Hope Dining Facility, Baghdad International Airport, Iraq, Thursday, November 27, 2003. White House photo by Tina Hager.]] On March 23, 2003, U.S. led coalition forces began an attack on Iraq. Most of the Iraqi army dissolved and coalition forces quickly took control of the country. However, sectarian violence worsened through [[bomb]]ings and sniper attacks. On Thanksgiving 2003 President Bush and U.S. [[National Security Adviser]] [[Condoleezza Rice]] visited troops in Iraq to boost morale. Saddam Hussein was captured in December 2003 while little evidence had shown that he had obtained Weapons of Mass Destruction.

On January 30, 2005, Iraq had its first general election since the liberation. They voted for a 275-member Iraqi National Assembly which later drafted a constitution. In December Iraq elected a permanent 275-member Council of Representatives. There were low levels of violence during the voting. In a showdown with Congressional Democrats after taking control of the [[U.S. House of Representatives]] and [[U.S. Senate|Senate]] in the 2006 Congressional Midterm elections, Democrats retreated on their pledge to end the [[Iraq War]] early and bring the troops home. Democrats had threatened to withhold funding for the troops unless a date certain for withdrawal was set. After the final vote, 280–142 in the House and 80–14 in the Senate, the anti-War movement was defeated. The deal cut with Democratic leaders in exchange for their acquiescing to fund the troops calls for the President to sign legislation raising the [[minimum wage]].<ref>[http://washingtontimes.com/national/20070525-122215-4854r.htm Congress OKs war bill sans time-line,] By S.A. Miller, [[The Washington Times]]'', May 25, 2007.</ref> One commentator remarked, "Despite all the talk of standing up to George W. Bush, despite all the bravado about taking control of Congress, despite the so-called mandate to change direction, Democrats caved....They claim that the majority of Americans are with them on the Iraq issue, but...President Bush, at the weakest moment of his presidency, still bested his Democratic rivals." <ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20071010192457/http://www.newmediajournal.us/staff/phyrillas/05292007.htm Democrats Show True Colors], Tony Phyrillas, ''New Media journal'', May 29, 2007</ref>

===2007 Troop Surge===

[[Image:20061228-1_p122706pm-0144-515h.jpg‎|Right|thumb|300px|President George W. Bush meets with National Security team, from left to right, Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Peter Pace Thursday, Dec. 28, 2006, at Prairie Chapel Ranch in Crawford, Texas. White House photo by Paul Morse]]
On January 23, 2007, President Bush ordered an additional 30,000 troops to Iraq.

<blockquote>In order to make progress toward this goal, the Iraqi government must stop the sectarian violence in its capital. But the Iraqis are not yet ready to do this on their own. So we're deploying reinforcements of more than 20,000 additional soldiers and Marines to Iraq. The vast majority will go to Baghdad, where they will help Iraqi forces to clear and secure neighborhoods, and serve as advisers embedded in Iraqi Army units. With Iraqis in the lead, our forces will help secure the city by chasing down the terrorists, insurgents, and the roaming death squads. And in Anbar Province, where al Qaeda terrorists have gathered and local forces have begun showing a willingness to fight them, we're sending an additional 4,000 United States Marines, with orders to find the terrorists and clear them out.<ref>[https://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/01/23/sotu.bush.transcript/index.html?iref=newssearch Bush: State of union is strong], [[CNN]]</ref></blockquote>

The surge was opposed by a majority of the United States Congress. However, it has resulted in significantly reduced sectarian violence. According to U.S. Central Command [[General]] [[David Petraeus]], violence in Iraq by December 2008 was at a 5-year low.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE4B86G720081209 Iraq violence at 5-1/2 year low, Petraeus says], [[Reuters]]</ref>

===Humanitarian aid===
President Bush has worked to stop the spread of the [[HIV/AIDS]] epidemic in [[Africa]]. In the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) $15 billion over five years (2003–2008) was spent on fighting global HIV/AIDS and improving treatment.

===Government regulations===
The Bush Administration became the highest-regulating Administration since the Nixon Administration, enacting 3,595 regulations in 2007 alone, increasing the number of pages in the Federal Register to a record high of 78,090 in 2007, and increasing the amount of taxpayer dollars spent on enacting and enforcing regulations from $26.4 billion to an estimated $42.7.<ref name="Regulations">De Rugy, Veronique (January 2009). [https://web.archive.org/web/20090902085717/http://www.reason.com/news/show/130328.html Bush's Regulatory Kiss-Off]. ''Reason''. Retrieved October 22, 2017.</ref>

===Economy===

Upon gaining office in 2001, Bush signed into law a $1.35 trillion cut in taxes over 10 years. The plan included the objectives of doubling the child tax credit from $500 to $1,000, reducing the tax penalty on [[marriage|married couples]] and fully repealing the [[Estate tax|tax on estates]]. A [[United States Senate]] Finance Committee Report estimated that with all the planned reductions fully phased in, the average family of four making $50,000 would save $1,825 per year.<ref>[http://archives.cnn.com/2001/ALLPOLITICS/06/07/bush.taxes/ $1.35 trillion tax cut becomes law], [[CNN]], 21 June 2001</ref>

[[Image:20080919-2_p091908jb-0025-1-515h.jpg‎|Right|thumb|300px|President George W. Bush stands with Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke, left, SEC Chairman Chris Cox, right, and Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson as he delivers a statement on the economy Friday, Sept. 19, 2008, in the Rose Garden. White House photo by Joyce N. Boghosian]] Since the tax cuts, IRS revenues increased from $1.78 trillion in 2003 to $2.56 trillion in 2007 with a 46.3% increase of individual income tax receipts. Surging $785 billion since the 2003 investment tax cuts, it is the largest four-year revenue increase in U.S. history<ref>[http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119189497675953035.html?mod=googlenews_wsj The Shrinking Deficit], [[Wall Street Journal]]</ref>

During this same time period, spending mandated by Congress has also increased by more than 29% in inflation-adjusted dollars, representing an 11.4% increase in federal spending as a percentage of [[Gross domestic product|GDP]]. This spending has doubled the federal debt, increasing it from 58% to 66% of GDP. Defense spending increased 61%, and non-defense by 23% during the eight years since 2000. The largest non-defense spending increase has been for federally-funded medical expenses, at 54 percent.<ref>[http://www.aier.org/research/commentaries/750-big-government-under-the-bush-administration Big Government Under The Bush Administration], AIER, 16 November 2008</ref> In total, Bush has increased government expenditures by the largest percentage of any president since Lyndon Johnson.<ref>[http://www.tampabay.com/news/politics/national/article944806.ece Some think Bush was too liberal], Wes Allison, Tampa Bay Times December 21, 2008 quoting Gleaves Whitney, director of the Hauenstein Center for Presidential Studies at Grand Valley State University and author of a new paper, "Anatomy of a Divorce: Conservatives versus George W. Bush."</ref>

Bush presided over a period of unreal economic growth that reflected a bubble that burst in 2008. The [[housing bubble]] allowed people to cash in the rising value of houses; low-interest rates that led to massive borrowing. Money flowed into the U.S. from around the world. The stock market that hit a record high in 2007, then plunged relentlessly downward, losing $8 trillion in value in 2008. Unemployment hit an all-time low in March 2007 but started rapidly increasing after January 2008. Bush signed into law a minimum wage increase, one of the platforms for the Democrats in the 2006 Congressional elections, after the House and Senate included Bush's request of provisions for small-business tax breaks.<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/20/AR2006122001784.html Bush Supports Democrats' Minimum Wage Hike Plan], [[Washington Post]]</ref><ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/01/10/AR2007011001666.html House Passes Increase in Minimum Wage to $7.25], [[Washington Post]]</ref> Tax policies have been favorable to reducing the [[Capital Gains Tax]], with a subsequent surge in investment.

See [[Financial Crisis of 2008]] and [[Recession of 2008]],

The [[socialist]] [[Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007]] was signed by Bush into law on April 25, 2009, as a rider to the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007, despite conservative opposition.<ref>[https://www.americanthinker.com/2007/01/opposing_minimum_wage_hike_is_1.html Opposing Minimum Wage Hike Is Bad Politics], [[American Thinker]]</ref> This measure hurt businesses and decreased America's competitiveness in the global marketplace.

===Supreme Court Appointments===
[[Image:Bush Oval Office 3.jpg|thumb|200px|right|President George W. Bush at the Oval office. South-facing windows.]]
After the death of Chief Justice [[William Rehnquist]], President Bush nominated U.S. Court of Appeals Judge [[John Roberts]] to fill the vacancy. He was confirmed on September 29, 2005, by a 78–22 vote. To replace the retiring Associate Justice [[Sandra Day O'Connor]] Bush nominated Judge [[Samuel Alito]], after his original nomination of Chief White House Council [[Harriet Miers]] was withdrawn because of widespread opposition due to lack of experience. After an unsuccessful filibuster attempt from [[United States Senate|Senate]] [[liberal]]s, Alito was confirmed on a 58–42 vote and was sworn in on January 31, 2006.<ref>[https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=5181091 Alito Confirmed as Newest Supreme Court Justice], [[NPR]]</ref>

===Involvement in the 2008 Presidential election===
In March 2008, Bush endorsed his one-time rival [[John McCain]] as the Republican candidate for President of the United States. However, due to the President's declining popularity in polls, McCain distanced himself from Mr. Bush on the campaign trail. Bush had the lowest approval rating (30%) of any president at their time of leaving office since the end of World War II, except Nixon.<ref>[http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/documents/info-presapp0605-31.html Presidential Approval Ratings History], [[Wall Street Journal]]</ref> At the same time, Democrat candidate [[Barack Obama]] tried to portray a McCain presidency as four more years of George W. Bush. The President spoke by videolink at the 2008 [[Republican National Convention]], while his wife Laura appeared on stage with McCain's wife [[Cindy McCain|Cindy]].
[[Image:George Laura Bush2008.jpg|thumb|left|300px|President George W. Bush and Mrs. Laura Bush pose for their last official holiday portrait, Dec. 7, 2008, in the Blue Room of the White House.]]

==Post-presidency==
John McCain lost the election to Senator Obama, and President Bush met with the new president-elect to discuss the presidential transition between his administration and Obama's, which he promised would be efficient and without problems. George W. Bush's term ended at noon on January 20, 2009, at which point President-elect Obama was inaugurated. In an interview with ABC's [[Charles Gibson]] in December 2008, Bush said his retirement plans included moving back to his home state of Texas and writing a book. He later released his memoir "Decision Points." He also wants to build an institute at the Southern Methodist University to serve as a non-partisan public policy forum, to debate issues and run volunteer projects from.

===Decision Points===
''Decision Points'' is a memoir written by Bush and was released on November 9, 2010. Bush also went on a national tour after releasing his book. After two months, the book sold very well, surpassing two million copies sold.

The book is 481 pages long and is broken into 14 chapters, with the first two being about Bush before his presidency, covering events such as when he quit drinking alcohol and was governor of [[Texas]]. The remaining twelve are about events during his presidency, such as the War on Terror, the September 11, 2001, attacks, and Hurricane Katrina.

===Opposition to Donald Trump===
[[File:Trade-deficit.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Growth of the trade deficit, i.e. exfiltration of American wealth, since [[China]] was granted [[tariff]]-free [[Most Favored Nation]] trade status in 2002.]]
During and after the [[United States presidential election, 2016|2016 presidential election]], Bush became known for his opposition to conservative businessman and U.S. President [[Donald Trump]].<ref>Cohn, Alicia (November 4, 2017). [https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/358745-george-w-bush-im-worried-that-i-will-be-the-last-republican George W. Bush: ‘I’m worried that I will be the last Republican president’]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved November 4, 2017.</ref> Bush supported his brother, [[Jeb Bush]], for the Republican nomination in 2016. Trump strongly criticized both Bushes in the primaries, primarily Jeb. Trump won the Republican nomination, but Bush did not vote for Trump or [[Hillary Clinton]] in the general election.<ref>Lee, Kurtis (November 8, 2016). [https://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/trailguide/la-na-election-day-2016-1478647604-htmlstory.html Former President George W. Bush Didn't Vote for Donald Trump]. ''Los Angeles Times''. Retrieved November 10, 2016.</ref>

Bush went out of his way to avoid criticizing President Obama during his entire tenure,<ref name="IngrahamFeb2018">[https://video.foxnews.com/v/5729616306001/?#sp=show-clips Ingraham: Bush and the global elites strike back]. ''Fox News Video''. February 8, 2018. Retrieved February 9, 2018.</ref> with the first time he reportedly criticized Obama being at a closed-door event in April 2015.<ref>Campbell, Colin (April 27, 2015). [https://www.businessinsider.com/george-w-bush-just-sharply-criticized-obama-for-the-first-time-2015-4 George W. Bush just sharply criticized Obama for the first time]. ''Business Insider''. Retrieved February 9, 2018.</ref> Despite this, Trump's presidency was only a month old when Bush attacked him for the first time.<ref>Riddell, Kelly (February 27, 2017). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/feb/27/bush-undercuts-trump-after-staying-silent-on-obama/ Bush undercuts Trump a month into presidency after staying silent on Obama for 8 years]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved February 9, 2018.</ref><ref>Flood, Brian (February 27, 2018). [https://www.thewrap.com/george-w-bush-didnt-criticize-obama-for-8-years-but-turned-on-trump-in-a-month/ George W Bush Didn’t Criticize Obama for 8 Years – But Turned on Trump in a Month]. ''The Wrap''. Retrieved February 9, 2018.</ref>

On October 19, 2017, Bush gave a speech at a Bush Institute's Spirit of Liberty event in New York (at exactly the same location where President Obama criticized the Trump Administration the previous month), and he criticized President Trump and his policies as "nativist," though he did not call them out by name. He stated his support for globalism, free trade, and neoconservatism, stating that "we cannot wish globalism away."<ref>Multiple references:
*Spiering, Charlie (October 19, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/10/19/george-w-bush-emerges-bash-trump-nativism-cannot-wish-globalism-away/ George W. Bush Emerges to Bash Trump, ‘Nativism’: ‘We Cannot Wish Globalism Away’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
*Dovere, Edward-Isaac (October 19, 2017). [https://www.politico.com/story/2017/10/19/george-w-bush-trumpism-243945 George W. Bush slams Trumpism, without mentioning president by name]. ''Politico''. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
*Shawn, Eric (October 19, 2017). [https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2017/10/19/george-w-bush-says-bigotry-or-white-supremacy-in-any-form-is-blasphemy.html George W. Bush says bigotry or white supremacy in any form is 'blasphemy']. ''Fox News''. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
*Mansour, Rebecca (October 21, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/10/21/mansour-13-clueless-lowlights-george-w-bushs-trump-bashing-speech/ Mansour: 13 Clueless Lowlights from George W. Bush’s Trump-bashing Speech]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved October 23, 2017.
See also:
*Pollak, Joel B. (October 20, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/10/20/blue-state-blues-george-w-bushs-divisive-call-for-unity-against-trump/ Blue State Blues: George W. Bush’s Divisive Call for Unity Against Trump]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved October 20, 2017.
*Mansour, Rebecca (October 19, 2017). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2017/10/19/mansour-five-reasons-george-w-bush-new-jimmy-carter/ Mansour: Five Reasons Why George W. Bush Is the New Jimmy Carter]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved October 22, 2017.</ref> Bush reportedly was expecting people to connect his speech to criticizing Trump when he drafted it.<ref>Chaitin, Daniel (October 19, 2017). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/george-w-bush-personally-tailored-speech-seen-as-implicit-rebuke-of-trump-report/article/2638127 George W. Bush personally tailored speech seen as implicit rebuke of Trump: Report]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved October 20, 2017.</ref> Bush's approval rating among Democrats rose to 51%, likely due to his opposition to President Trump, an amazing rating considering how unpopular he was among the Left when he left office.<ref>Hashmi, Siraj (October 27, 2017). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/democratic-love-for-george-w-bush-proves-politics-is-americas-most-popular-sport/article/2638835 Democratic love for George W. Bush proves politics is America's most popular sport]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved October 27, 2017.</ref>

On February 8, 2018, speaking in [[Abu Dhabi]] in the [[United Arab Emirates]], Bush again criticized President Trump,<ref name="IngrahamFeb2018"/> claiming that "there's pretty clear evidence" that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election,<ref>Multiple references:
*Hjelmgaard, Kim (February 8, 2018). [https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2018/02/08/george-w-bush-clear-evidence-russians-meddled-election/318620002/ George W. Bush: 'Clear evidence Russians meddled' in election]. ''USA Today''. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
*[https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018/02/08/george-w-bush-says-theres-pretty-clear-evidence-russia-meddled-in-2016-us-election.html George W. Bush says 'there's pretty clear evidence' Russia meddled in 2016 US election]. ''Fox News'' (from the ''Associated Press''). February 8, 2018. Retrieved February 9, 2018.</ref> and he criticized Trump's America First immigration policy, saying that "we ought to say thank you and welcome [legal and illegal immigrants]" into the country.<ref>Multiple references:
*Binder, John (February 8, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/02/08/george-w-bush-praises-mass-immigration-we-ought-to-say-thank-you-and-welcome-them/ George W. Bush Praises Cheap Labor Immigration: ‘We Ought to Say Thank You and Welcome Them’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved February 9, 2018.
*Anapol, Avery (February 8, 2018). [https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/372882-george-w-bush-on-immigrants-we-ought-to-say-thank-you-and-welcome George W. Bush on immigrants: 'We ought to say thank you and welcome them']. ''The Hill''. Retrieved February 9, 2018.</ref> In May 2018, Bush again endorsed globalist policies, speaking against "dangers of isolationism" among other issues at a globalist Atlantic Council event.<ref>Lawler, David (May 10, 2018). [https://www.axios.com/george-w-bush-warns-against-isolationism-ff2d0509-9ec9-4491-a4d6-7057ddf8a827.html George W. Bush warns of “dangers of isolationism” in impassioned speech]. ''Axios''. Retrieved May 10, 2018.</ref><ref>Delk, Josh (May 10, 2018). [https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/387209-george-w-bush-urges-moral-practical-spending-on-global-interests George W. Bush urges ‘moral, practical’ spending on global interests]. ''The Hill''. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
See also:
*Chaitin, Daniel (May 12, 2018). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/george-w-bush-flubs-winston-churchill-quote George W. Bush flubs Winston Churchill quote]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved May 12, 2018.</ref> In July 2018, Bush said he was "disturbed by the debate that’s taking place" on immigration under Trump.<ref>Binder, John (July 12, 2018). [https://www.breitbart.com/big-government/2018/07/12/george-w-bush-im-disturbed-by-immigration-debate-taking-place/ George W Bush: ‘I’m Disturbed’ by Immigration ‘Debate Taking Place’]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved July 12, 2018.</ref> Bush continued voicing [[neocon]] opinions and criticized President Trump's [[America First]] policies.<ref>Binder, John (October 16, 2019). [https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2019/10/16/report-george-w-bush-trumps-isolationist-america-is-dangerous-for-global-peace/ Report–George W. Bush: Trump’s ‘Isolationist’ America Is ‘Dangerous’ for Global Peace]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved October 17, 2019.</ref>

== Family ==
George W. Bush is the son of [[George H. W. Bush]], who served as vice-president from 1981 to 1989 and as president from 1989 to 1993, and [[Barbara Bush]]. President Bush is married to [[Laura Bush|Laura Welch Bush]], a former teacher and librarian, and they have twin daughters, Barbara and Jenna. John Ellis "Jeb" Bush, Neil Bush and Marvin Bush are his brothers. Dorothy Bush Koch is his only surviving sister, as Pauline Robinson Bush died at age four of [[leukemia]].

Bush's daughters developed [[liberal]] political views, refusing to affiliate with the Republican Party for ideological reasons<ref>Chumley, Cheryl K. (September 5, 2014). [https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/sep/5/bush-daughters-decline-republican-label-were-both-/ Bush daughters decline Republican label: ‘We’re both very independent’]. ''The Washington Times''. Retrieved October 29, 2017.</ref> and supporting<ref>Viebeck, Elise (October 3, 2016). [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/powerpost/wp/2016/10/03/another-bush-voting-for-clinton-barbara-jr-spotted-at-paris-fundraiser/ Another Bush voting for Clinton? Barbara (Jr.) spotted at Paris fundraiser]. ''The Washington Post''. Retrieved October 29, 2017.</ref><ref>Merica, Dan (October 3, 2016). [https://www.cnn.com/2016/10/02/politics/barbara-bush-hillary-clinton-fundraiser-huma-abedin/index.html George W. Bush's daughter attends Clinton fundraiser in Paris]. ''CNN''. Retrieved October 29, 2017.</ref> and voting for<ref>[http://nytlive.nytimes.com/womenintheworld/2017/10/20/barbara-bush-confirms-she-voted-for-hillary-clinton/ Barbara Bush confirms she voted for Hillary Clinton]. ''Women in the World -- The New York Times''. October 20, 2017. Retrieved October 29, 2017.</ref> the left-wing [[globalist]] [[Hillary Clinton]] in the 2016 presidential election over conservative [[Donald Trump]].

==Faith==

George W. Bush is a member of the [[United Methodist Church]], and most people feel that George W. Bush's faith is sincere and profound. ''The Faith of George W. Bush'', a non-political book by author Stephen Strang, made the [[New York Times]] best-sellers list.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080205042903/http://www.christianlifemissions.org/ministries/georgewbush.htm The Faith of George W. Bush]</ref>
When asked where he would be without the influence of family friend [[Billy Graham]], George W. Bush said "I wouldn't be president." "It was just a conversation," said the younger Bush about a talk with Graham in the mid-'80s that changed his life. During the pivotal conversation Bush recalled saying, "'You know, Billy, I'm longing for something.' And I know that he sent me a Bible I still have. All I can tell you is that as a result of being inspired by Billy Graham, I started reading the Bible and shortly after, I quit drinking." <ref>[https://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=3456729 Leaders, Faith and a Friendship], [[ABC News]]</ref> Bush's faith led him to veto a bill which would have provided for [[federal funding]] of immoral embryonic stem cell research.

In an interview with ABC's "Nightline" on 12/8/08, the president also said he probably is not a literalist when reading the Bible although an individual can learn a great deal from it, including the New Testament teaching that [[God]] sent his only son.

During his presidential career, George W Bush often consulted God when making important decisions. For example, Nabil Shaath, who was Palestinian foreign minister at the time, reported that President Bush said that God told him 'George go and fight these terrorists in Afghanistan' and 'George, go and end the tyranny in Iraq'.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2005/oct/07/iraq.usa George Bush: 'God told me to end the tyranny in Iraq' ], [[London Guardian]]</ref>
Asked about creation and evolution, Bush said: "I think you can have both. I think evolution can -- you're getting me way out of my lane here. I'm just a simple president. But it's, I think that God created the earth, created the world; I think the creation of the world is so mysterious it requires something as large as an almighty and I don't think it's incompatible with the scientific proof that there is evolution."<ref>[https://abcnews.go.com/print?id=6418908 Excerpts: Cynthia McFadden Interviews President George W. Bush], [[ABC News]]</ref><ref>[https://www.foxnews.com/politics/2008/12/09/bush-says-creation-incompatible-evolution/ Bush Says Creation 'Not Incompatible' With Evolution], [[Fox News]]</ref><ref>[http://blogs.cbn.com/thebrodyfile/archive/2008/12/10/president-bush-asked-if-bible-is-literally-true-probably-not.aspx President Bush Asked if Bible is Literally True: "Probably Not"], [[CBN]]</ref>
He added:
{{cquote|<big><big>'''''I happen to believe that evolution doesn't fully explain the mystery of life.'''''</big>}}

[[File:Evergreen-chapel-tree-of-knowledge.jpg|thumb|left|Evergreen Chapel at Camp David]]
While President, Bush worshiped regularly at the Evergreen Chapel at Camp David.

==Polls==
When Bush entered office, his popularity rating was near 50%. However, after the [[September 11]] attacks, his popularity rose significantly, reaching an all-time high of 90%.<ref>[http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-07-09-bush-poll_N.htm Poll: Bush approval drops to low of 29%], [[USA Today]]</ref> Since, then, though, it declined as some of his policies have become unpopular (largely due to the media's persistently negative—and [[liberal bias|biased]]—reporting on the [[Iraq War]] and misrepresentation of his policies).<ref>[http://www.hist.umn.edu/~ruggles/Approval.htm Historical Bush Approval Ratings from University of Minnesota]</ref> In 2007, Bush had an approval rating of only 24%.<ref name=elevenpercent>[https://www.reuters.com/article/2007/10/17/us-usa-politics-poll-idUSN1624620720071017 Voters unhappy with Bush and Congress], [[Reuters]], October 17, 2007</ref> The same poll gave the Democratic controlled Congress an approval rating of only 11%.<ref name=elevenpercent />

After leaving office, Bush's approval ratings increased again, reaching 45% by 2017.<ref>Bedard, Paul (September 11, 2017). [https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/bush-is-back-nears-911-popularity-in-huge-poll-swing/article/2634015 Bush is back, nears 9/11 popularity in huge poll swing]. ''Washington Examiner''. Retrieved September 11, 2017.</ref>

== Farewell Speech ==
*''Delivered January 15, 2009 at the White House. His audience in the East Room included family, friends, Cabinet and some selected Americans President Bush had met in his eight years in office.''

'''Fellow citizens: For eight years, it has been my honor to serve as your President. The first decade of this new century has been a period of consequence – a time set apart. Tonight, with a thankful heart, I have asked for a final opportunity to share some thoughts on the journey we have traveled together and the future of our Nation.'''

[[Image:BushSpeech.jpg|Right|thumb|300px|President George W. Bush reaches into the audience to shake hands with invited guests and staff members following his farewell address to the nation Thursday evening, Jan. 15, 2009 in the East Room of the White House, where President Bush thanked the American people for their support and trust. White House photo by Joyce N. Boghosian]] '''Five days from now, the world will witness the vitality of American democracy. In a tradition dating back to our founding, the presidency will pass to a successor chosen by you, the American people. Standing on the steps of the Capitol will be a man whose story reflects the enduring promise of our land. This is a moment of hope and pride for our whole Nation. And I join all Americans in offering best wishes to President-elect Obama, his wife Michelle, and their two beautiful girls.'''

'''Tonight I am filled with gratitude – to Vice President Cheney and members of the Administration; to Laura, who brought joy to this house and love to my life; to our wonderful daughters, Barbara and Jenna; to my parents, whose examples have provided strength for a lifetime. And above all, I thank the American people for the trust you have given me. I thank you for ....'''

'''...the prayers that have lifted my spirits. And I thank you for the countless acts of courage, generosity, and grace that I have witnessed these past eight years. '''

'''This evening, my thoughts return to the first night I addressed you from this house – September 11, 2001. That morning, terrorists took nearly 3,000 lives in the worst attack on America since Pearl Harbor. I remember standing in the rubble of the World Trade Center three days later, surrounded by rescuers who had been working around the clock.'''

'''I remember talking to brave souls who charged through smoke-filled corridors at the Pentagon and to husbands and wives whose loved ones became heroes aboard Flight 93. I remember Arlene Howard, who gave me her fallen son's police shield as a reminder of all that was lost. And I still carry his badge.'''

'''As the years passed, most Americans were able to return to life much as it had been before Nine-Eleven. But I never did. Every morning, I received a briefing on the threats to our Nation. And I vowed to do everything in my power to keep us safe.'''

'''Over the past seven years, a new Department of Homeland Security has been created. The military, the [[intelligence community]], and the FBI have been transformed. Our Nation is equipped with new tools to monitor the terrorists’ movements, freeze their finances, and break up their plots. And with strong allies at our side, we have taken the fight to the terrorists and those who support them.'''

'''Afghanistan has gone from a nation where the Taliban harbored al Qaeda and stoned women in the streets to a young democracy that is fighting terror and encouraging girls to go to school. Iraq has gone from a brutal dictatorship and a sworn enemy of America to an Arab democracy at the heart of the Middle East and a friend of the United States.'''

'''There is legitimate debate about many of these decisions. But there can be little debate about the results. America has gone more than seven years without another terrorist attack on our soil. This is a tribute to those who toil day and night to keep us safe – law enforcement officers, intelligence analysts, homeland security and diplomatic personnel, and the men and women of the United States Armed Forces.'''

'''Our Nation is blessed to have citizens who volunteer to defend us in this time of danger. I have cherished meeting these selfless patriots and their families. America owes you a debt of gratitude. And to all our men and women in uniform listening tonight: There has been no higher honor than serving as your Commander in Chief.'''

'''The battles waged by our troops are part of a broader struggle between two dramatically different systems. Under one, a small band of fanatics demands total obedience to an oppressive ideology, condemns women to subservience, and marks unbelievers for murder. The other system is based on the conviction that freedom is the universal gift of Almighty God and that liberty and justice light the path to peace.'''

'''This is the belief that gave birth to our Nation. And in the long run, advancing this belief is the only practical way to protect our citizens. When people live in freedom, they do not willingly choose leaders who pursue campaigns of terror. When people have hope in the future, they will not cede their lives to violence and extremism.'''

'''So around the world, America is promoting human liberty, human rights, and human dignity. We are standing with dissidents and young democracies, providing AIDS medicine to bring dying patients back to life, and sparing mothers and babies from malaria. And this great republic born alone in liberty is leading the world toward a new age when freedom belongs to all nations.'''

'''For eight years, we have also strived to expand opportunity and hope here at home. Across our country, students are rising to meet higher standards in public schools. A new Medicare prescription drug benefit is bringing peace of mind to seniors and the disabled. Every taxpayer pays lower income taxes.'''

'''The addicted and suffering are finding new hope through faith-based programs. Vulnerable human life is better protected. Funding for our veterans has nearly doubled. America's air, water, and lands are measurably cleaner. And the Federal bench includes wise new members like Justice Sam Alito and Chief Justice John Roberts.'''

'''When challenges to our prosperity emerged, we rose to meet them. Facing the prospect of a financial collapse, we took decisive measures to safeguard our economy. These are very tough times for hardworking families, but the toll would be far worse if we had not acted. All Americans are in this together. And together, with determination and hard work, we will restore our economy to the path of growth. We will show the world once again the resilience of America's free enterprise system.'''

'''Like all who have held this office before me, I have experienced setbacks. There are things I would do differently if given the chance. Yet I have always acted with the best interests of our country in mind. I have followed my conscience and done what I thought was right. You may not agree with some tough decisions I have made. But I hope you can agree that I was willing to make the tough decisions.'''

'''The decades ahead will bring more hard choices for our country, and there are some guiding principles that should shape our course.'''

'''While our Nation is safer than it was seven years ago, the gravest threat to our people remains another terrorist attack. Our enemies are patient and determined to strike again. America did nothing to seek or deserve this conflict. But we have been given solemn responsibilities, and we must meet them. We must resist complacency. We must keep our resolve. And we must never let down our guard.'''

'''At the same time, we must continue to engage the world with confidence and clear purpose. In the face of threats from abroad, it can be tempting to seek comfort by turning inward. But we must reject isolationism and its companion, protectionism. Retreating behind our borders would only invite danger. In the 21st century, security and prosperity at home depend on the expansion of liberty abroad. If America does not lead the cause of freedom, that cause will not be led.'''

'''As we address these challenges – and others we cannot foresee tonight – America must maintain our moral clarity. I have often spoken to you about good and evil. This has made some uncomfortable. But good and evil are present in this world, and between the two there can be no compromise. Murdering the innocent to advance an ideology is wrong every time, everywhere.'''

'''Freeing people from oppression and despair is eternally right. This Nation must continue to speak out for justice and truth. We must always be willing to act in their defense and to advance the cause of peace.'''

'''President Thomas Jefferson once wrote, “I like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past.” As I leave the house he occupied two centuries ago, I share that optimism. America is a young country, full of vitality, constantly growing and renewing itself. And even in the toughest times, we lift our eyes to the broad horizon ahead.'''

'''I have confidence in the promise of America because I know the character of our people. This is a Nation that inspires immigrants to risk everything for the dream of freedom. This is a Nation where citizens show calm in times of danger and compassion in the face of suffering. We see examples of America's character all around us. And Laura and I have invited some of them to join us in the White House this evening.'''

'''We see America's character in Dr. Tony Recasner, a principal who opened a new charter school from the ruins of Hurricane Katrina. We see it in Julio Medina, a former inmate who leads a faith-based program to help prisoners returning to society. We see it in Staff Sergeant Aubrey McDade, who charged into an ambush in Iraq and rescued three of his fellow Marines.'''

'''We see America's character in Bill Krissoff, a surgeon from California. His son Nathan, a Marine, gave his life in Iraq. When I met Dr. Krissoff and his family, he delivered some surprising news: He told me he wanted to join the Navy Medical Corps in honor of his son. This good man was 60 years old – 18 years above the age limit.'''

'''But his petition for a waiver was granted, and for the past year he has trained in battlefield medicine. Lieutenant Commander Krissoff could not be here tonight, because he will soon deploy to Iraq, where he will help save America's wounded warriors and uphold the legacy of his fallen son.'''

'''In citizens like these, we see the best of our country – resilient and hopeful, caring and strong. These virtues give me an unshakable faith in America. We have faced danger and trial, and there is more ahead. But with the courage of our people and confidence in our ideals, this great Nation will never tire ... never falter ... and never fail.'''

'''It has been the privilege of a lifetime to serve as your President. There have been good days and tough days. But every day I have been inspired by the greatness of our country and uplifted by the goodness of our people. I have been blessed to represent this Nation we love. And I will always be honored to carry a title that means more to me than any other: citizen of the United States of America.'''

'''And so, my fellow Americans, for the final time: Good night. May God bless this house and our next President. And may God bless you and our wonderful country."'''

==Quotes==
* "Everywhere that freedom stirs, let tyrants fear."

==Publications==
* [https://www.amazon.com/Decision-Points-George-W-Bush/dp/0307590615/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1279195424&sr=8-1 Decision Points by George W. Bush], released November 9, 2010. ISBN 0307590615

==Further reading==
;Academic
* Abramson, Paul R., John H. Aldrich, and David W. Rohde. ''Change and Continuity in the 2004 and 2006 Elections'' (2007), 324pp [https://www.amazon.com/Change-Continuity-2004-2006-Elections/dp/0872894150/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1206001659&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]
* Allard, Scott W. "The Changing Face of Welfare During the Bush Administration." ''Publius'' 2007 37(3): 304–332. Issn: 0048-5950
* Barone, Michael. ''The Almanac of American Politics'' (2004, 2006, 2008, 2010), highly detailed coverage of electoral politics and Congress.
* Berggren, D. Jason, and Nicol C. Rae. "Jimmy Carter and George W. Bush: Faith, Foreign Policy, and an Evangelical Presidential Style." ''Presidential Studies Quarterly.'' 36#4 2006. pp 606+. [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5018322436 online edition]
* Campbell, Colin, Bert A. Rockman, and Andrew Rudalevige, eds.. ''The George W. Bush Legacy'' Congressional Quarterly Press, 2007, 352pp; 14 essays by scholars [https://www.amazon.com/George-W-Bush-Legacy/dp/0872893464/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1206001536&sr=1-1 excerpts and online search from Amazon.com]
* Congressional Quarterly. ''CQ Almanac Plus'' highly detailed annual compilation of events in Congress, White House, Supreme Court, summarizing the weekly "Congressional Quarterly Weekly Report". (annual, 2002-2009)
* Conlan, Tim and John Dinan. "Federalism, the Bush Administration, and the Transformation of American Conservatism." ''Publius'' 2007 37(3): 279–303. Issn: 0048-5950
* Corrado, Anthony, E. J. Dionne Jr., Kathleen A. Frankovic. ''The Election of 2000: Reports and Interpretations'' (2001) [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=99208680 online edition]
* Daynes, Byron W. and Glen Sussman. "Comparing the Environmental Policies of Presidents George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush." ''White House Studies'' 2007 7(2): 163–179. Issn: 1535-4738
* Desch, Michael C. "Bush and the Generals." ''Foreign Affairs'' 2007 86(3): 97-108. Issn: 0015-7120 Fulltext: [[Ebsco]]
* Eckersley, Robyn. "Ambushed: the Kyoto Protocol, the Bush Administration's Climate Policy and the Erosion of Legitimacy." ''International Politics'' 2007 44(2-3): 306–324. Issn: 1384-5748
* Edwards III, George C. and Philip John Davies, eds. ''New Challenges for the American Presidency'' New York: Pearson Longman, 2004. 245 pp. articles from ''Presidential Studies Quarterly''
* Edwards III, George C. and Desmond King, eds. ''The Polarized Presidency of George W. Bush'' (2007), 478pp; essays by scholars; [https://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0199217971/ref=sib_dp_pt/103-4827826-5463040#reader-link excerpt and online search from Amazon.com]
* Fortier, John C. and Norman J. Ornstein, eds. ''Second-term Blues: How George W. Bush Has Governed'' (2007), 146pp [https://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0815728840/ref=sib_dp_pt/103-4827826-5463040#reader-link excerpt and online search from Amazon.com]
* Greenstein, Fred I. ed. ''The George W. Bush Presidency: An Early Assessment'' Johns Hopkins University Press, 2003
* Greenstein, Fred I. “The Contemporary Presidency: The Changing Leadership of George W. Bush A Pre- and Post-9/11 Comparison” in ''Presidential Studies Quarterly'' v 32#2 2002 pp 387+. [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5000773171 online edition]
* Gregg II, Gary L. and Mark J. Rozell, eds. ''Considering the Bush Presidency'' Oxford University Press, 2004. 210 pp. British perspectives
* Hendrickson, Ryan C., and Kristina Spohr Readman, "From the Baltic to the Black Sea: Bush's NATO Enlargement." ''White House Studies.'' (2004) 4#3 pp: 319+. [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5008838303 online edition]
* Hilliard, Bryan, Tom Lansford, and Robert P Watson, eds. ''George W. Bush: Evaluating the President at Midterm'' SUNY Press 2004
* Jacobson, Gary C. “The Bush Presidency and the American Electorate” ''Presidential Studies Quarterly'' v 33 #4 2003 pp 701+. [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=5002052614 online edition]
* Jacobson, Gary C. "Referendum: the 2006 Midterm Congressional Elections." ''Political Science Quarterly'' 2007 122(1): 1-24. Issn: 0032-3195 Fulltext: [[Ebsco]]
* Milkis, Sidney M. and Jesse H.Rhodes. "George W. Bush, the Party System, and American Federalism." ''Publius'' 2007 37(3): 478–503. Issn: 0048-5950
* Moens, Alexander ''The Foreign Policy of George W. Bush: Values, Strategy, and Loyalty.'' Ashgate, 2004. 227 pp.
* Rabe, Barry. "Environmental Policy and the Bush Era: the Collision Between the Administrative Presidency and State Experimentation." ''Publius'' 2007 37(3): 413–431. Issn: 0048-5950
* Sabato, Larry J. ed. ''The Sixth Year Itch: The Rise and Fall of the George W. Bush Presidency'' (2007), experts on the 2006 elections in major states
* Strozeski, Josh, et al. "From Benign Neglect to Strategic Interest: the Role of Africa in the Foreign Policies of Bush 41 and 43." ''White House Studies'' 2007 7(1): 35–51. Issn: 1535-4738
* Wekkin, Gary D. "George H. W. Bush and George W. Bush: Puzzling Presidencies, or the Puzzle of the Presidency?" ''White House Studies'' 2007 7(2): 113–124. Issn: 1535-4738
* Wong, Kenneth and Gail Sunderman. "Education Accountability as a Presidential Priority: No Child Left Behind and the Bush Presidency." ''Publius'' 2007 37(3): 333–350. Issn: 0048-5950

;Pro-Bush
* Barnes, Fred. ''Rebel-in-Chief: How George W. Bush Is Redefining the Conservative Movement and Transforming America'' (2006)
* Draper, Robert. ''Inside the Bush White House: The Presidency of George W. Bush'' (2007)
* Hughes, Karen. ''George W. Bush: Portrait of a Leader,'' (2005)
* Gerson, Michael J. ''Heroic Conservatism: Why Republicans Need to Embrace America's Ideals (And Why They Deserve to Fail If They Don't)'' (2007) [https://www.amazon.com/Heroic-Conservatism-Republicans-Embrace-Americas/dp/006134950X/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1206001391&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]
* [[Bob Woodward|Woodward, Bob]]. ''Plan of Attack'' (2003) on Iraq war [https://www.amazon.com/Plan-Attack-Bob-Woodward/dp/074325547X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1206001508&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]

;Anti-Bush
* Bartlett, Bruce. ''Impostor: How George W. Bush Bankrupted America and Betrayed the Reagan Legacy'' (2006), conservative attack by former aide
* Ferguson, Michaele L. and Lori Jo Marso. ''W Stands for Women: How the George W. Bush Presidency Shaped a New Politics of Gender'' (2007)
* Greenspan, Alan. ''The Age of Turbulence: Adventures in a New World,'' (2007), memoir by powerful chairman of the Federal Reserve
* Moore, James. and Wayne Slater. ''Bush's Brain: How Karl Rove Made George W. Bush Presidential.'' 2003. [http://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=107370497 online edition]
* Suskind, Ron. ''The Price of Loyalty: George W. Bush, the White House, and the Education of Paul O’Neill'' (2004), complaints of ex Treasury Secretary [https://www.amazon.com/Price-Loyalty-George-Education-ONeill/dp/0743255461/ref=sr_1_1/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1188802463&sr=1-1 excerpts and online search from Amazon.com]

;Bush aides
* Stephen F. Hayes. ''Cheney: The Untold Story of America's Most Powerful and Controversial Vice President'' (2007) [https://www.amazon.com/Cheney-Americas-Powerful-Controversial-President/dp/0060723467/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/103-4827826-5463040?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1188802328&sr=1-1 excerpts and online search]
* Mabry, Marcus. ''Twice as Good: Condoleezza Rice and Her Path to Power'' (2007)
; Primary sources
* [http://fraser.stlouisfed.org/publications/ERP/ Council of Economic Advisors, ''Economic Report of the President'' (annual 1947- )], complete series online; important analysis of current trends and policies, plus statistical tables
* George W. Bush. ''George W. Bush on God and Country: The President Speaks Out About Faith, Principle, and Patriotism'' (2004)

==See also==
*[[Previous Breaking News/George W. Bush|Articles about '''George W. Bush''' from previous "Breaking News"]]
*[[Bush Derangement Syndrome]]
*[[Bush Doctrine]]
*[[Bush-hater]]
*[[Bushism]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [http://www.bushcenter.com/ The George W. Bush Presidential Center]
* [http://warrioropen.com/ Warrior Open, Dallas, Texas, on October 10 and 11, 2011]
* [https://www.facebook.com/georgewbush George W. Bush on Facebook]
* [https://www.facebook.com/clintonbushhaitifund?v=wall Clinton Bush Haiti Fund]
* [http://www.honorfreedom.com HonorFreedom.com - a nationwide effort to correct the historical record about President Bush and the Bush foreign policy doctrine]
* [https://www.nationalreview.com/article/346562/george-w-bush-reconsidered George W. Bush Reconsidered on National Review Online]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bush, George W.}}
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{{USPresidents}}

India

2021-04-07T17:38:09Z

StarkGaryen:

{{Country
|name =''भारत गणराज्य Bhārat Gaharājya''
|map =India-map-img.png
|map2 =India location.png
|flag =Flag of India svg.png
|arms =Emblem of India.png
|capital =New Delhi
|capital-raw =
|government =Federal Republic
|government-raw =
|language =[[Hindi language|Hindi]], [[English language|English]]
|king =
|queen =
|monarch-raw =
|president = Ram Nath Kovind
|president-raw =
|chancellor =
|chancellor-raw =
|pm =Narendra Modi
|pm-raw =
|area =3,287,590 sq mi
|pop =1,380,000,000 (2020)
|pop-basis =
|gdp =$2,590,000,000,000 (2020)
|gdp-year =
|gdp-pc =$2,174 (2020)
|currency =[[rupee]]
|idd =
|tld =
}}
The '''Republic of India'''([[Hindi]]:'''हिंदुस्तान''' ''Hindustan'') is a major [[Social democracy|social democratic]] nation located in [[South Asia]] with a [[population]] of 1.3 billion people. It spans from the [[Himalayas]] in the north to the [[Indian Ocean]]. It borders [[Afghanistan]], [[Tajikistan]]<ref>http://www.jammu-kashmir.com/documents/harisingh47.html</ref>,[[Tibet]], [[East Turkestan]], [[Pakistan]], [[Bangladesh]], [[Nepal]], [[Bhutan]] and [[Myanmar]]. India is the 7th largest country in the world in terms of area and second most populous country (standing at around 1.4 billion according to 2021 estimate), only behind China.

India is far more [[conservative]] than [[China]], and the vast majority of Indians practice [[Hinduism]], a religion which emphasizes family values, education, and tradition. The belief in [[reincarnation]] in Hinduism gives primacy to the future rather than the past, in contrast with Chinese religions.

Founded on August 15, 1947, India was known as the ''Union of India'' until it re-declared itself a [[democratic republic]], using the name Republic of India. Though India is the world's third-largest economy in terms of purchasing power parity, and the fifth-largest economy in terms of nominal GDP, it has high levels of [[poverty]], [[illiteracy]], [[corruption]] and [[crime]]. However, poverty, illiteracy, corruption, and crime are declining dramatically, due to government reforms.

==Etymology==
The original name of India prior to European colonialism was Hindustan. The word Hindustan traces its origins back to the Brihaspati Agama where its says ''"Starting from Himalaya up to Indu waters is this God created country called Hindustan."''<ref>https://www.sanskritimagazine.com/indian-religions/hinduism/how-old-is-the-word-hindu/</ref>

==People==
[[File:Indians.jpg|right]]
Although India occupies only 2.4% of the world's land area, it supports over 15% of the world's population; only China has a larger population. India's median age is 25, one of the youngest among large economies. About 70% live in more than 550,000 villages, and the remainder in more than 200 towns and cities. Over the thousands of years of its history, India has been invaded from the Iranian plateau, Central Asia, Arabia, Afghanistan, and the West; Indian people and culture have absorbed and modified these influences to produce a remarkable racial and cultural synthesis.

Religion, [[caste]], and language are major determinants of social and political organization in India today. However, with more job opportunities in the private sector and better chances of upward social mobility, India has begun a quiet social transformation in this area. The government has recognized 18 official languages;<ref>"In the early 1900s ... English was ascendant in India. ... It was the lingua franca to which Indians, who spoke more than a dozen distinct languages, turned when they did not otherwise understand one another." ([https://www.amazon.com/The-Man-Who-Knew-Infinity/dp/0671750615 ''The Man Who Knew Infinity''], page 25 - [[Robert Kanigel]])</ref> Hindi, the national language, is the most widely spoken, although English is a national lingua franca. Although 81% of its people are Hindu, India also is the home of more than 138 million Muslims—one of the world's largest [[Muslim]] populations. The population also includes [[Christian]]s, [[Sikh]]s, [[Jain]]s, [[Buddhist]]s, and [[Parsi]]s.

The Hindu [[caste system]] reflects Indian occupational and socially defined hierarchies. Ancient [[Sanskrit]] sources divide society into four major categories, priests ([[Brahmin]]), warriors ([[Kshatriya]]), traders-[[merchant]]s ([[Vaishya]]) and farmers/laborers ([[Shudra]]). Although these categories are understood throughout India, they describe reality only in the most general terms. They omit, for example, the tribes and those once known as "[[untouchables]]." In reality, Indian society is divided into thousands of jatis—local, endogamous groups based on occupation—and organized hierarchically according to complex ideas of purity and pollution. Discrimination based on caste is officially illegal, but remains prevalent, especially in rural areas. Nevertheless, the government has made strong efforts to minimize the importance of caste through active affirmative action and social policies. Moreover, caste has been diluted if not subsumed in the economically prosperous and heterogeneous cities, where an increasing percentage of India's population lives. In the countryside, expanding education, land reform and economic opportunity through access to information, communication, transport, and credit have lessened the harshest elements of the caste system.

==Religions==

===Overview===
[[File:Indian family going to church.jpg|thumb|Indian family going to church.]]
India has over 900 million [[Hindu]]s, 150 millions [[Muslim]]s, 25 million [[Christian]]s and 20 million [[Sikh]]s among the many religious groups that make up the country<ref>https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/in.html</ref> including communities of [[Jain]]s, [[Buddhist]]s, and [[Bahai]].

India is the region where four major world religions were founded:
*[[Hinduism]]
*[[Buddhism]]
*[[Jainism]]
*[[Sikhism]]

Today, Hinduism and Buddhism are the world's third- and fourth-largest religions respectively, after Christianity and Islam, with a collective 1.4 billion followers.

===Hinduism in India===
[[Image:Krishna a la flute.gif|right|180px]]
Hinduism as it is identified today has existed in India for over 4000 years; in the past it had spread to the rest of South-East [[Asia]] and [[Indonesia]], although Hinduism is practiced outside India today only in the island of [[Bali]].

The beliefs and practices of the pre-classical era (1500–500BC) are called the "historical Vedic religion". Modern Hinduism grew out of the [[Vedas]],a large corpus of texts originating in Ancient India. They form the oldest layer of [[Sanskrit]] literature and the oldest sacred texts of Hinduism, the oldest of which is the [[Rigveda]], dated to 1700–1100BC. The Vedas center on worship of deities such as [[Indra]], Varuna and Agni, and on the Soma ritual. They performed fire-sacrifices, called yajña and chanted Vedic mantras but did not build temples or icons. The oldest Vedic traditions exhibit strong similarities to [[Zoroastrian]]ism and with other Indo-European religions. During the Epic and Puranic periods, the earliest versions of the epic poems [[Ramayana]] and [[Mahabharata]] were written roughly from 500–100BC, although these were orally transmitted for centuries prior to this period. The epics contain mythological stories about the rulers and wars of ancient India, and are interspersed with religious and philosophical treatises. The later Puranas recount tales about devas and devis, their interactions with humans and their battles against demons.

===Buddhism in India===

Buddhism originated in Eastern India in the 6th century B.C. and spread to the rest of Asia through individual and organized missionaries, although there are few practicing Buddhists left in India today.

===Jainism in India===

Jainism originated in Eastern India in the 6th century B.C. and spread to the rest of India; today they are mostly concentrated in the Southern and Western parts of the country.

===Sikhism in India===

Sikhism is a monotheistic religion that originated in India in the 16th century A.D.

===Other Religions in India===

[[Christianity]] arrived in India in the first century A.D., possibly through the travels of the [[Apostle Thomas]], whose tomb in the Indian city of Chennai is a major pilgrimage site for Christians in India.

[[Islam]] arrived in the latter half of the 8th century A.D. as a consequence of both war and trade. It continued to spread with invasions, wars and forced conversions by Afghans and Turkic Mongols. They slowly integrated into the society and formed India's Islamic tradition. The [[Taj Mahal]], India's national monument, was built by a Muslim emperor named Shah Jahan. Islam is practiced by around 13.4% of all Indians.
[[Image:Taj Mahal.jpg|thumb|Taj Mahal]]

Although small in number, India does have a Jewish community. The first identifiably [[Judaism|Jewish]] migrants arrived in India as the Bene Israel group. There is some debate as to the Jewishness of a possibly older group of Indians in the Northeastern part of the country called the Bnei Menashe.

===Religious Persecution===

While for many years India has been known as an area of the world where a melting pot of religions could be practiced freely, troubling and persistent persecution against [[Christian]]s by the [[Hindu]] majority arose in the 1990s and has continued since that time. In October 2008, 38 Christians were killed and 30,000 fled from efforts of Hindu nationalist militants to force them to convert to Hinduism.<ref>http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27380721</ref>

There are also frequent attacks upon Indian Christians by [[Muslims]] in India, who make up a large proportion of the population. They subject the Indian Christian population to harassment and intimidation, particularly those who were previously Muslims. In 2006, a Muslim who converted to Christianity in the Indian state of Kashmir was shot dead by [[Jihadism|Jihadist]] militants.<ref>http://www.speroforum.com/site/article.asp?id=6705</ref>

==Government==
According to its Constitution, India is a "sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic." Like the United States, India has a federal form of government. However, the central government in India has greater power in relation to its states, and has adopted a British-style parliamentary system.

The government exercises its broad administrative powers in the name of the president, whose duties are largely ceremonial. A special electoral college elects the president and vice president indirectly for 5-year terms. Their terms are staggered, and the vice president does not automatically become president following the death or removal from office of the president.

Real national executive power is centered in the Council of Ministers (Cabinet), led by the prime minister. The president appoints the prime minister, who is designated by legislators of the political party or coalition commanding a parliamentary majority in the Lok Sabha (lower house). The president then appoints subordinate ministers on the advice of the prime minister.
[[File:Delhi Tomb of Imam Zamin Qutub Minar Complex.jpg|thumb|left|Tomb of Imam Zamin Qutub, Delhi.]]
India's bicameral Parliament consists of the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) and the Lok Sabha (House of the People). The Council of Ministers is responsible to the Lok Sabha.

The legislatures of the states and union territories elect 233 members to the Rajya Sabha, and the president appoints another 12. The members of the Rajya Sabha serve 6-year terms, with one-third up for election every 2 years. The Lok Sabha consists of 545 members, who serve 5-year terms; 543 are directly elected, and two are appointed.

India's independent judicial system began under the British, and its concepts and procedures resemble those of Commonwealth countries. The Supreme Court consists of a chief justice and 25 other justices, all appointed by the president on the advice of the prime minister.

India has 28 states* and 7 union territories. At the state level, some legislatures are bicameral, patterned after the two houses of the national parliament. The states' chief ministers are responsible to the legislatures in the same way the prime minister is responsible to Parliament.

Each state also has a presidentially appointed governor, who may assume certain broad powers when directed by the central government. The central government exerts greater control over the union territories than over the states, although some territories have gained more power to administer their own affairs. Local governments in India have less autonomy than their counterparts in the United States. Some states are trying to revitalize the traditional village councils, or panchayats, to promote popular democratic participation at the village level, where much of the population still lives. Over half a million panchayats exist throughout India.

 

==Principal Government Officials==
*President—Pranab Mukherjee
*Vice President—Mohammed Hamid Ansari
*Prime Minister—Narendra Modi
*Home Minister—Rajnath Singh
*Minister of External Affairs—Shushma Swaraj
*Ambassador to the U.S.--Arun Singh
*Ambassador to the UN—Syed Akbaruddin

===Politics ===
After the 2014 elections, the BJP, led by conservative [[Narendra Modi]], won an absolute majority in the lower house, and after the 2017 state elections it received an absolute majority in the upper house as well.

The governing coalition led by the Indian National Congress sailed to a decisive victory in India's parliamentary elections in May 2009, adding 57 seats. The election gave a second term to prime minister Manmohan Singh, age 77, a soft-spoken economic reformer, and ended the prospect of political instability in the world's most populous democracy. The election confirmed that Sonia Gandhi, age 62, dominates the Congress Party. She is the Italian-born widow of the assassinated former prime minister [[Rajiv Gandhi]] and the daughter-in-law of the prime minister before him, [[Indira Gandhi]], who was also assassinated. The Congress-led coalition built its near-majority with an appeal to the rural poor. During its first term, buoyed by robust economic growth, it used record government revenues to increase social spending, not just raising health and education budgets, but also starting an ambitious public works program in the countryside and a costly loan repayment waiver for farmers. Mrs. Gandhi won support by casting herself as a leader who relinquished power, turning down her party's appeals to become prime minister, first in 2004 and again this time. Instead, she chose the soft-spoken economist, Mr. Singh, and between them, they controlled the party and the government. She took care of the politics of keeping the coalition together, while he served as the chief executive who followed her advice.

[[File:India-14.jpg|thumb|390px]]
Emerging as the nation's single largest party in the April/May 2004 Lok Sabha election, Congress currently leads a coalition government under Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Party President Sonia Gandhi was re-elected by the Party National Executive in May 2005. Also a Member of Parliament, she heads the Congress Lok Sabha delegation. Congress prides itself as a secular, left of center party, with a long history of political dominance. Although its performance in national elections had steadily declined during the last 12 years, its surprise victory in 2004 was a result of recruiting strong allies into the UPA, the anti-incumbency factor among voters, and its courtship of India's many poor, rural and Muslim voters. Congress political fortunes suffered badly in the 1990s, as many traditional supporters were lost to emerging regional and caste-based parties, such as the Bahujan Samaj Party and the Samajwadi Party, but have rebounded since its May 2004 ascension to power. It currently rules either directly or in coalition with its allies in 9 states. In November 2005, the Congress regained the Chief Ministership of Jammu and Kashmir state, under a power-sharing agreement.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Rajnath Singh, holds the second-largest number of seats in the Lok Sabha. Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee serves as Chairman of the BJP Parliamentary Party, and former Deputy Prime Minister L.K. Advani is Leader of the Opposition. The Hindu-nationalist BJP draws its political strength mainly from the "Hindi Belt" in the northern and western regions of India.

The party holds power in the states of Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Orissa—in coalition with the Biju Janata Dal. Popularly viewed as the party of the northern upper caste and trading communities, the BJP made strong inroads into lower castes in recent national and state assembly elections. The party must balance the competing interests of Hindu nationalists, (who advocate construction of a temple on a disputed site in Ayodhya, and other primarily religious issues), and center-right modernizers who see the BJP as a party of economic and political reform.

Recently, the Bhartiya Janata Party scored a major victory in the Lok Sabha Elections of 2014, with Narendra Modi becoming Prime Minister. Modi known to have made the Indian state of Gujarat become an economic powerhouse and one of the most developed state in India.
[[Image:Haveli in Mandawa, India.jpg|240px|right|Haveli in Mandawa.]]

Four Communist and Marxist parties are united in a bloc called the "Left Front," which controls 57 parliamentary seats. The Left Front rules the states of West Bengal and Kerala. Although it has not joined the government, Left Front support provides the crucial seats necessary for the UPA to retain power in New Delhi; without its support, the UPA government would fall. It advocates a secular and Communist ideology and opposes many aspects of economic liberalization and globalization, resulting in dissonance with [[Prime Minister]] Singh's liberal economic approach.

==Foreign Relations==
{{See also|Foreign relations of India}}

India's size, population, and strategic location give it a prominent voice in international affairs, and its growing economic strength, military prowess, and scientific and technical capacity give it added weight. The end of the [[Cold War]] dramatically affected Indian foreign policy. India remains a leader of the developing world and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). India is now strengthening its political and commercial ties with the United States, Japan, the European Union, Iran, China, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. India is an active member of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

Always an active member of the United Nations, India now seeks a permanent seat on the UN Security Council. India has a long tradition of participating in UN peacekeeping operations.

==Bilateral and Regional Relations==

===Tense relations with Pakistan===

India and Pakistan have been locked in a very tense rivalry since the partition of the subcontinent upon achieving independence from Great Britain in 1947. The principal source of contention has been Kashmir, whose Hindu Maharaja at that time chose to join India, although a majority of his subjects were Muslim. India maintains that his decision and subsequent elections in Kashmir have made it an integral part of India. This dispute triggered wars between the two countries in 1947 and 1965 and provoked the Kargil conflict in 1999.

Pakistan and India fought a war in December 1971 following a political crisis in what was then East Pakistan and the flight of millions of Bengali refugees to India. The brief conflict left the situation largely unchanged in the west, where the two armies reached an impasse, but a decisive Indian victory in the east resulted in the creation of Bangladesh.
[[File:Iran Pakistan India gas pipeline.JPG|thumb|left|300px|Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline.]]
Since the 1971 war, Pakistan and India have made slow progress toward normalization of relations. In July 1972, Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Pakistani President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto met in the Indian hill station of Simla. They signed an agreement by which India would return all personnel and captured territory in the west and the two countries would "settle their differences by peaceful means through bilateral negotiations." Diplomatic and trade relations were re-established in 1976.

The 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan caused new strains between India and Pakistan. Pakistan supported the Afghan resistance, while India implicitly supported the Soviet occupation. In the following eight years, India voiced increasing concern over Pakistani arms purchases, U.S. military aid to Pakistan, and Pakistan's nuclear weapons program. In an effort to curtail tensions, the two countries formed a joint commission. In December 1988, Prime Ministers Rajiv Gandhi and Benazir Bhutto concluded a pact not to attack each other's nuclear facilities and initiated agreements on cultural exchanges and civil aviation.

In 1997, high-level Indo-Pakistani talks resumed after a three-year pause. The Prime Ministers of India and Pakistan met twice, and the foreign secretaries conducted three rounds of talks. In June 1997 at Lahore, the foreign secretaries identified eight "outstanding issues" around which continuing talks would be focused. The dispute over the status of Jammu and Kashmir, an issue since partition, remains the major stumbling block in their dialogue. India maintains that the entire former princely state is an integral part of the Indian union, while Pakistan insists upon the implementation of UN resolutions calling for self-determination for the people of the state.

In September 1997, the talks broke down over the structure of how to deal with the issues of Kashmir and peace and security. Pakistan advocated that separate working groups treat each issue. India responded that the two issues be taken up along with six others on a simultaneous basis. In May 1998 India, and then Pakistan, conducted nuclear tests. Attempts to restart dialogue between the two nations were given a major boost by the February 1999 meeting of both Prime Ministers in Lahore and their signing of three agreements. These efforts were stalled by the intrusion of Pakistani-backed forces into Indian-held territory near Kargil in May 1999 (that nearly turned into full-scale war), and by the military coup in Pakistan that overturned the Nawaz Sharif government in October the same year. In July 2001, Mr. Vajpayee and General Pervez Musharraf, leader of Pakistan after the coup, met in Agra, but talks ended after two days without result.

After an attack on the Indian Parliament in December 2001, India-Pakistan relations cooled further as India accused Pakistan of involvement. Tensions increased, fueled by killings in Jammu and Kashmir, peaking in a troop buildup by both sides in early 2002.

Prime Minister Vajpayee's April 18, 2003 speech in Srinagar (Kashmir) revived bilateral efforts to normalize relations. In November 2003, Prime Minister Vajpayee and President Musharraf agreed to a ceasefire, which still holds, along the Line-of-Control in Jammu and Kashmir. After a series of confidence building measures, Prime Minister Vajpayee and President Musharraf met on the sidelines of the January 2004 SAARC summit in Islamabad and agreed to commence a Composite Dialogue addressing outstanding issues between India and Pakistan, including Kashmir. The UPA government has continued the Composite Dialogue with Pakistan.

In February 2004, India and Pakistan agreed to restart the "2+6" Composite Dialogue formula, which provides for talks on Peace and Security and Jammu and Kashmir, followed by technical and Secretary-level discussions on six other bilateral disputes: Siachen Glacier, Wuller Barrage/Tulbul Navigation Project, Sir Creek estuary, Terrorism and Drug Trafficking, Economic and Commercial cooperation, and the Promotion of Friendly Exchanges in various fields. The Foreign Secretary talks resumed in November 2006, after a three-month delay following the July 11, 2006 terrorist bombings in Mumbai. The meeting generated modest progress, with the two sides agreeing to establish a joint mechanism on counter-terrorism and agreeing to a follow-on meeting in February 2007. The restart of the Composite Dialogue process is especially significant, given the almost six years that transpired since the two sides agreed to this formula in 1997-98.

Following the October 2005 earthquake in Kashmir, the two governments coordinated relief efforts and opened access points along the Line-of-Control to allow relief supplies to flow from India to Pakistan and to allow Kashmiris from both sides to visit one another.

===South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)===

Certain aspects of India's relations within the subcontinent are conducted through the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). Its members are Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, with the People's Republic of China, Iran, Japan, European Union, Republic of Korea, and the U.S. as observers. Established in 1985, SAARC encourages cooperation in agriculture, rural development, science and technology, culture, health, population control, narcotics, and terrorism.

SAARC has intentionally stressed these "core issues" and avoided those which could prove divisive, although political dialogue is often conducted on the margins of SAARC meetings. In 1993, India and its SAARC partners signed an agreement gradually to lower tariffs within the region. Forward movement in SAARC had slowed because of tension between India and Pakistan, and the SAARC summit scheduled for 1999 was not held until January 2002. In addition, to boost the process of normalizing India's relationship with Pakistan, the January 2004 SAARC summit in Islamabad produced an agreement to establish a South Asia Free Trade Area (SAFTA). All the member governments have ratified SAFTA, which was slated to come into force on January 1, 2006, with a series of graduated tariff cuts through 2015. As of December 2006, however, the FTA partners were still negotiating sensitive product lists, rules of origin, and technical assistance. India hosted the 2007 SAARC summit, which called for greater regional cooperation on trade, environmental, social, and counterterrorism issues.

===Relations with China===

Despite suspicions remaining from a 1962 border conflict between India and [[China]] and continuing territorial/boundary disputes, Sino-Indian relations have improved gradually since 1988. Both countries have sought to reduce tensions along the frontier, expand trade and cultural ties, and normalize relations. Their bilateral trade reached $24 billion in 2006. China is India's second-largest trading partner behind the U.S.

A series of high-level visits between the two nations has improved relations. In December 1996, Chinese President [[Jiang Zemin]] visited India on a tour of South Asia. While in New Delhi, he and the Indian Prime Minister signed a series of confidence-building measures along the disputed border, including troop reductions and weapons limitations.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao invited Prime Minister Vajpayee to visit China in June 2003. They recognized the common goals of both countries and made the commitment to build a "long-term constructive and cooperative partnership" to peacefully promote their mutual political and economic goals without encroaching upon their good relations with other countries. In [[Beijing]], Prime Minister Vajpayee proposed the designation of special representatives to discuss the border dispute at the political level, a process that is still under way.

In November 2006, President Hu Jintao made an official state visit to India, further cementing Sino-Indian relations. India and China are building on growing economic ties to improve other aspects of their relationship such as counter-terrorism, energy, and trade. In another symbol of improved ties, the two countries opened the Nathu La Pass to bilateral trade in July 2006 for the first time in 40 years. Though it is the first direct land trade route in decades, trade is expected to be local and small since the pass is open only four months a year.

===Russia===

The collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and the emergence of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) had major repercussions for Indian foreign policy. India's substantial trade with the region plummeted after the Soviet collapse and has yet to recover. Longstanding military supply relationships were similarly disrupted due to questions over financing. Russia nonetheless remains India's largest supplier of military systems and spare parts.

Russia and India have not renewed the 1971 Indo-Soviet Peace and Friendship Treaty and follow what both describe as a more pragmatic, less ideological relationship. The visit of Russian President Boris Yeltsin to India in January 1993 helped cement this new relationship. The pace of high-level visits has since increased, as has discussion of major defense purchases. UPA leader Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Singh visited Russia in July 2005. President Vladimir Putin traveled to India in January 2007 to attend an Indo-Russia Summit and was the guest of honor at India's Republic Day celebrations.

==Defense==
The supreme command of the Indian armed forces is vested in the President of India. Policies concerning India's defense, and the armed forces as a whole, are formulated and confirmed by the Cabinet.

===Indian Army===

The Indian Army numbers over 1.1 million strong and fields 34 divisions. Its primary task is to safeguard the territorial integrity of the country against external threats. The Army has been heavily committed in the recent past to counterterrorism operations in Jammu and Kashmir, as well as the in the Northeast. Its current modernization program focuses on obtaining equipment to be used in combating terror. The Army often provides aid to civil authorities and assists the government in organizing relief operations.

===Indian Navy===

The Indian Navy is by far the most capable navy in the region. The Navy's primary missions are the defense of India and of India's vital sea lines of communication. India relies on the sea for 90% of its oil and natural gas and over 90% of its foreign trade. The Navy currently operates one aircraft carrier with two on order, 14 submarines, and 15 major surface combatants. It is capable of projecting power within the Indian Ocean basin and occasionally operates in the [[South China Sea]], the Mediterranean Sea and the Arabian Gulf. Fleet introduction of the Brahmos cruise missile and the possible lease of nuclear submarines from Russia will add significantly to the Indian Navy's flexibility and striking power.

Although small, the Indian Coast Guard has been expanding rapidly in recent years. Indian Navy officers typically fill top Coast Guard positions to ensure coordination between the two services. India's Coast Guard is responsible for control of India's huge exclusive economic zone.

===Indian Air Force===

The Indian Air Force is becoming a 21st-century force through modernization, new tactics and the acquisition of modern aircraft, such as the SU-30MKI, a new advanced jet trainer (BAE Hawk) and the indigenously produced advanced light [[helicopter]] (Dhruv). In June 2007, the Indian Government announced intentions to release a request for proposals for 126 multi-role combat aircraft for the Indian Air Force.

== Economy ==

The '''economy of [[India]]''', measured in [[Dollar|USD]] [[exchange rate|exchange-rate]] terms, is the [[List of countries by GDP (nominal)|seventh-largest]] in the world, with a GDP of around $3 trillion as of 2020. India recorded a GDP growth rate of 9.1% for the fiscal year 2007–2008 which makes its growth the second fastest among emerging economies in the world, after China.<ref name="gdp-growthrate">{{cite news | title=India Defies Turmoil With Growth of 8.8% | date= May 31, 2007 | publisher=MarketWatch | url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121213639165032371.html?mod=googlenews_wsj}}</ref> At this rate of sustained growth many economists forecast that India would, over the coming decades, have a more pronounced economic effect on the world stage. Despite this phenomenal rate of growth, India's large [[population of India|population]] has an estimated [[per capita]] income of $2,563, measured by PPP, and $941, measured in nominal terms as of 2007

=== Economic History ===
In 1960, India was the tenth-largest economy, with a $35 billion GDP.<ref>https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_largest_historical_GDP</ref> In 1965, India kept the 10th place, with a $55 billion GDP. India only went to $65 billion in 1970, still being 10th. In 1975, India got bumped down to 12th by Brazil and Spain, with a $100 billion GDP. In 1980, Argentina, Mexico, and Netherlands bumped India, with a $190 billion GDP, to 14th. In 1985, India got $240 billion, this time getting to 14th, because of Argentina's crashing economy. In 1990, India, with a $325 billion GDP, went to 13th, bumping down the Netherlands. In 1995, India had a $366.7 billion GDP, but got bumped by South Korea to 14th. In 2000, the $475 billion economy, which is India, got to 13th place, bumping down Russia's declining economy. In 2005, India climbed to $833 billion, bumped down Brazil and Mexico, thus climbing to 11th. In 2010, India had a $1.725 billion GDP, and got to 9th, bumping down Canada, South Korea, and Spain, but being bumped down by Russia. In 2015, India hit the $2 trillion mark, and ultimately reaching $2.1 trillion, becoming the seventh-largest economy, bumping down Italy and Brazil. In 2020, India bumped down European powers the United Kingdom and France, and, with its $3 trillion GDP, India became the fifth-largest economy. In 2025, India is expected to have a $5 trillion GDP, and would become the fourth-largest economy, surpassing Europe's largest economy, Germany. If projections come true, India could become the third-largest economy, and Asia's second-largest economy, with a $8 trillion GDP, in 2030.

=== General overview ===
[[File:India...jpg|right|340px]]

India's population is estimated at more than 1.1 billion and is growing at 1.3% a year. It has the world's 5th largest economy—and the third largest in [[Asia]] behind [[Japan]] and [[China]]—with total [[GDP]] of around $3 trillion ($3,000 billion). Services, industry, and [[agriculture]] account for 55%, 27%, and 18% of GDP respectively. Nearly two-thirds of the population depends on agriculture for its livelihood. 700 million Indians live on $2 per day or less, but there is a large and growing [[middle class]] of 325-350 million with disposable income for consumer goods.

India is continuing to move forward with market-oriented economic reforms that began in 1991. Recent reforms include liberalized foreign investment and exchange regimes, industrial decontrol, significant reductions in [[tariff]]s and other trade barriers, reform and modernization of the financial sector, significant adjustments in government monetary and fiscal policies, and safeguarding intellectual property rights.

Real GDP growth for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2007 was 9.4%, up from 9.0% growth in the previous year. Growth for the year ending March 31, 2008 is expected to be between 8.5-9.0%. Foreign portfolio and direct investment inflows have risen significantly in recent years. They have contributed to $255 billion in foreign exchange reserves by June 2007. Government receipts from privatization were about $3 billion in fiscal year 2003-2004, but the privatization program has stalled since then.

Economic growth is constrained by inadequate infrastructure, a cumbersome bureaucracy, corruption, labor market rigidities, regulatory and foreign investment controls, the "reservation" of key products for small-scale industries, and high (although declining) fiscal deficits. The outlook for further trade liberalization is mixed. India eliminated quotas on 1,420 consumer imports in 2002 and has incrementally lowered non-agricultural customs duties in recent successive budgets. However, the tax structure is complex, with compounding effects of various taxes.

The [[United States]] is India's largest trading partner. Bilateral trade in 2006 was $32 billion. Principal U.S. exports are diagnostic or lab reagents, aircraft and parts, advanced machinery, [[cotton]], [[fertilizer]]s, ferrous waste/scrap metal, and computer hardware. Major U.S. imports from India include [[textile]]s and ready-made garments, Internet-enabled services, agricultural and related products, [[gem]]s and [[jewelry]], leather products, and chemicals.

The rapidly growing software sector is boosting service exports and modernizing India's economy. Software exports crossed $28 billion in FY 2006-2007, while business process outsourcing (BPO) revenues hit $8.3 billion in 2006-2007. Personal computer penetration is 14 per 1,000 persons. The cellular/mobile market surged to 140 million subscribers by November 2006. The country has 54 million [[cable TV]] customers.

The United States is India's largest investment partner, with a 13% share. India's total inflow of U.S. direct investment is estimated at more than $9 billion through 2006. Proposals for direct foreign investment are considered by the Foreign Investment Promotion Board and generally receive government approval. Automatic approvals are available for investments involving up to 100% foreign equity, depending on the kind of industry. Foreign investment is particularly sought after in power generation, telecommunications, ports, roads, petroleum exploration/processing, and mining.

India's external debt was $155 billion in 2006-2007, up from $126 billion in 2005-2006. Foreign assistance was approximately $3 billion in 2006-2007, with the United States providing about $126 million in development assistance. The [[World Bank]] plans to double aid to India to almost $3 billion a year, with focus on infrastructure, education, health, and rural livelihoods.

In 2016, India abolished larger banknotes in a move toward a [[Cashless society]].

===Agriculture===
[[Image:Varma Lady Carrying Fruits.jpg|thumb|Lady Carrying Fruits by Ravi Varma.]]
India has a cultivated area of 138 million hectares which almost equals that of the [[European Union]]. A lot of the land has good agriculture potential especially where water supplies are available. Arable farming, especially cereals is the main kind of farming. India, which has two thirds of its working population relying on the land to earn a living, desperately needs to improve agriculture production in order to develop its economy.

When India became independent from [[Britain]] in 1947 the Indian government recognized agriculture as a key area for economic development. Despite this there has been limited modernization of the sector. There hasn't been an effective land reform package introduced to redistribute land from wealthy landlords to landless peasants. In the 1990s almost half of rural families had plots of 0.5 hectares or no land at all, but a quarter of India's agricultural land was owned by five percent of rich landowning families. This has made it nearly impossible to mechanize and introduce modern farm practices.

The dominant type of farming throughout India is intensive [[Subsistence farming]]. It is used especially in rural areas with high population density, where people depend on being able to feed themselves. [[Rice]] is very important for this type of farming, especially in the Indus and Ganges flood plains. Other crops such as wheat and millet are grown in drier parts of peninsular India. Farming is a family affair, with all planting, flooding and harvesting done by hand. One of the reasons rural Indians have such large families is to provide free labour to help harvest crops. This adds to the pressure on India's service sector and India's agriculture sector to meet the demands of India's ever-growing population.

India is a country that has benefited from the Green revolution. This refers to the development and introduction of genetically modified, high yield varieties of staple crops, such as rice and wheat. These ‘miracle’ crops produce high yields and are resistant to disease and pests. Due to the Green revolution, India has managed to become a net exporter of food.

There is however some problems linked to the Green revolution. It depends on large inputs of chemical fertilizers and pesticides that may be costly and harmful to the soil in the long run. Labour is often replaced with machinery, so rural unemployment goes up and more people leave the land and go to towns, increasing rural-urban migration. A well-educated farm population and capital investment are needed. It only really benefits comparatively few, large-scale farmers; large numbers of small-scale farmers may not be able to benefit from the process.

For a large number of Indian farmers a better solution would be the introduction of more intermediate technology and a more effective programme of land reform. While the Green revolution has brought some positive results, the vast majority of India's [[rice]] farmers use traditional farm practices that depend heavily on the natural environment. The need to match food production to match India's growing population is a major concern for government.

===Industry===

When India became independent in 1947 it had a largely underdeveloped Industrial system, with textiles and food processing been the key industries in the country. Only two percent of the working population had been employed in industry, which was concentrated in the major cities; [[Bombay]], [[Calcutta]] and [[Madras]]. On gaining independence the new government was determined to reduce India's dependence on imported goods and to promote greater wealth and employment throughout the country.

The size of India's population provided it a large home market and the country had some natural resources ([[coal]] and Iron) a large and cheap labour force and outputs from agriculture (cotton, Jute) Mineral resources encouraged the government to develop heavy industries, such as Iron and [[steel]], shipbuilding and chemicals. Despite these advantages development was relatively slow and only benefited a few growth centers. In addition, by the 1980s, many heavy industries were in decline, Industrial policy has changed to emphasize Agri-industries, consumer goods industries and small craft industries, rural development (community based development and self-help schemes) and high technology industries.

Agri-industries would be advantageous to India in that it already employs a large number of people in the agricultural sector. The development of fertilizers, machinery and food processing benefits rural communities and helps in the modernization of India's agricultural system.

[[Consumer goods]] industries are more labor-intensive than large-scale heavy industries, so more jobs are created as a result. They also benefit from low labour costs and traditional skills, which make them more competitive in, export markets. E.g. jewellary, clothing, leather goods etc.

With more than 70% of India's population living in rural areas, jobs need to be taken to these people rather than encouraging migration to urban areas. This involves support for community development projects and self-help schemes that improve skills levels among the workforce.

High technology (Hi-tech) industries are attracted to India by the growing number of India's skilled workers (Which produces more university graduates than USA and Canada combined) low costs and improved communication systems. These high value industries add a modern face to Indian industry. Many major multinationals, such as [[IBM]] and [[Texas instruments]], have located in India. Large numbers of locally owned companies have also set up to supply software components to western markets. (See [[Spin-off Effect]])

Although the government has tried to spread industry across the country, this growing sector remains concentrated in a growing number of city regions. The most important are [[Calcutta]], [[Bombay]] and [[Bangalore]]. Bangalore is known as ‘India’s silicon valley’ as a result of all the high-tech industries which have set up there.

===Education===
[[File:Sikh pilgrim at the Golden Temple in Amritsar India.jpg|thumb|300px|Sikh pilgrim at the Golden Temple in Amritsar.]]
India has a large number of [[University|Universities]], but the quality ranges from poor to medicore. The best students head to the U.S. or Britain. To cover this weakness, the government in July 2009 announced plans to expand the higher education budget by 40%, to $3.1-billion, for 2009-10.

The government in 2009 allotted an extra $435-million to the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology and the National Institutes of Technology, and $170.5-million more to open 16 central universities in states that lack one. In keeping with its agenda of inclusive economic growth, the government has also announced interest-free loans for disadvantaged students to take technical and professional courses.

To increase India's college-going rate to 21% by 2017, Prime Minister Singh has announced plans to start five new Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research, eight new Indian Institutes of Technology, seven new Indian Institutes of Management, and 20 new Indian Institutes of Information Technology — thus doubling the number of top-tier institutions in the country. He also wants to set up 16 central universities, 14 “world class” universities, and almost 400 colleges.

==History==
See [[History of India]]

==Further reading==
* Cohen, Stephen P. ''India: Emerging Power'' (2002) [https://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/0815715013/ref=sib_dp_pt/103-4827826-5463040#reader-link excerpt and online search from Amazon.com]
* Guha, Ramachandra. ''India After Gandhi: The History of the World's Largest Democracy'' (2008) [https://www.amazon.com/India-After-Gandhi-History-Democracy/dp/0060958588/ref=sr_1_8?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242545228&sr=1-8 excerpt and text search]
* Nilekani, Nandan. ''Imagining India: The Idea of a Renewed Nation'' (2009) business in India [https://www.amazon.com/Imagining-India-Idea-Renewed-Nation/dp/1594202044/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242545602&sr=1-1 excerpt and text search]
* Panagariya, Arvind. ''India: The Emerging Giant'' (2008) 544 pp., The major recent history; for advanced readers. [https://www.amazon.com/India-Emerging-Giant-Arvind/dp/0195315030/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1222697254&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]
* Wolpert, Stanley. ''India'' (4th ed. 2009), 264pp; excellent overview and introduction [https://www.amazon.com/India-Stanley-Wolpert/dp/0520260325/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1255296028&sr=8-1 excerpt and text search]
===Guides===
* ''India'' (Lonely Planet Guide) by Sarina Singh et al. (2007) [https://www.amazon.com/India-Country-Guide-Sarina-Singh/dp/1741043085/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242545228&sr=1-4 excerpt and text search]
* '' India'' (Eyewitness Travel Guides by DK Publishing (2002) [https://www.amazon.com/India-Eyewitness-Travel-Guides-Publishing/dp/0789483955/ref=sr_1_18?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242545500&sr=1-18 excerpt and text search])
* ''India - Culture Smart!: a quick guide to customs and etiquette'' by Nicki Grihault (2006) [https://www.amazon.com/India-Culture-Smart-customs-etiquette/dp/1857333055/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242545228&sr=1-5 excerpt and text search]
* ''The Rough Guide to India'' (2008) [https://www.amazon.com/Rough-Guide-India-Travel-Guides/dp/1858289947/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1242545228&sr=1-10 excerpt and text search]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==See also==
* [[99 year Lease(India)]]
* [[World History Lecture Three]] for more information on Ancient India.
* [[Anti-conversion legislation in India]]
* [[Oriental art]]
* [[Indian Painting]]
* [[Nuclear target structures]]
* [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]]
* [[Opposition to the partition of India]]
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[[Category:India]]
[[Category:Indian History]]
[[Category:Buddhism]]
[[Category:Nuclear Defense]]