Bush in a bunker?

I've seen this story posted on four different blogs--Carpetbagger Report, Crooks and Liars, McJoan at Daily Kos, and Digby. The original source is a Dallas Morning News column by Georgie Anne Geyer on the subject of terrorism spreading throughout the Middle East. Geyer argues that terrorism is spreading throughout the Middle East because of "weakened societies" that are "vulnerable to the 'new answers' of 'new insurgencies,'" and Iraq has been "set up as a school for terrorists with American troops and policy providing the constant inspiration for their fight." In other words, the historical, societal and political environment of the Middle East has set up this breeding ground for terrorism. Geyer then points out that the Bush administration rejects this argument, claiming that terrorists are "Born, not created by history, bearing the mark of Cain, not the mark of circumstance. There is a scarlet "T" written on their foreheads at birth and the only answer is to destroy them. This kind of thinking, of course, relieves the thinker of any responsibility for the presence of the insurgent-terrorist-whatever in our innocent midst."

That is the contrasting arguments of the reasons why terrorism is spreading. Geyer then writes:

What's more, there is not much real give in the administration's policies. True, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and other American diplomats met Memorial Day weekend with the Iranians in Baghdad (a good first move but limited, since the Iranians have most of the power because of our incredible stupidity in Iraq). But by all reports, President Bush is more convinced than ever of his righteousness.

Friends of his from Texas were shocked recently to find him nearly wild-eyed, thumping himself on the chest three times while he repeated "I am the president!" He also made it clear he was setting Iraq up so his successor could not get out of "our country's destiny." [Emphasis is mine.]

This is beyond President Bush becoming the Bubble-Boy President, or even the Bunker-Boy President. I fear that President Bush has gone into a state of delusional thinking here, practically screaming that not only does he want to be remembered as "the war president," but also for maintaining a permanent U.S. occupation--and a permanent war--in Iraq. In a sense, this delusional thinking does provide and explanation to yesterday's post on President Bush's envisioning the U.S. occupation of Iraq to be similar to South Korea. President Bush can not admit that he was wrong in invading Iraq--even as the analysis, the news reports, and the public opinion polls, all show otherwise. If Geyer is correct with this Bush rant, then I fear it is going to get worst for our country, over the next couple of months. Remember, September will be the next round of war funding before 2008 and the elections. If there are 25 GOP senators who are worried more about their political careers than Bush's war, and who pass a veto-proof funding bill which includes withdrawal timetables, I can't even speculate what President Bush's state of mind would be in September, or even what irrational acts he may commit (Attack Iran?).

Think Progress picked up on this story, and included another interesting piece of information. Apparently this is the second time that President Bush has lashed out in response to criticism on his Iraq policy during private meetings. Think Progress posted an article sourcing a subscription-required Nelson Report story:

[S]ome big money players up from Texas recently paid a visit to their friend in the White House. The story goes that they got out exactly one question, and the rest of the meeting consisted of The President in an extended whine, a rant, actually, about no one understands him, the critics are all messed up, if only people would see what he’s doing things would be OK…etc., etc. This is called a “bunker mentality” and it’s not attractive when a friend does it. When the friend is the President of the United States, it can be downright dangerous. Apparently the Texas friends were suitably appalled, hence the story now in circulation.

This is scary.