Strategery: White House Policy Game 2002 Edition

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September of 2001, the World Trade Center is attacked and 2,996 Americans perish. The United States began a global war on terror by invading Afghanistan and hunting down Osama Bin Laden. While this was occurring, neoconservatives, in both the Pentagon and White House alike were figuring out what to do with Iraq and the regime of Saddam Hussein. While getting into another war proved to be unpopular with the American people, the administration’s focus shifted from diplomacy to, how will we get the majority of the population on board. The problem the Bush administration and the neoconservatives found was that there was no evidence Hussein was acquiring weapons of mass destruction or had nuclear capabilities. Through the manipulation of facts and evidence members of the Bush administration were able to get elected officials and the majority of the American people to buy their story that painted a grim picture of the goals of Saddam Hussein and his regime in Iraq despite evidence that proved contrary to this theory of Iraq developing a weapons of mass destruction program. There was not much resistance to the idea of war with Iraq amongst the majority of the American people since George Bush was “trusted,” and had a 9O percent approval rating in the months after 9-11. The American people were looking for their government to take care of them, and they were emotionally sold on war in Iraq, with the images of the World Trade Center fresh in their minds. Click to continue to [[Character selection]]

Welcome Mr. Warner, You walk into the West wing to start your day bright and early at O7OO. You are met by Deputy White House Chief of Staff Karl Rove who hands you a folder and asks you to make copies of a memo inside for the oval office meeting this morning. You are walking to the copy room with this folder that reads FOR SENIOR STAFF MEETING W/POTUS: IRAQ on the cover. Iraq, you ponder, what ties could there be in Iraq? You are left with a surge of curiosity and a choice. Suppress the urge to look, make the copies of the memo and [[return to Karl Rove]] Go into the supply closet before making copies to [[look at the memo]]. [[Make an extra copy]] and stow it away at your desk to read through later.

Choose your character. White House aide [[Prescott Warner]] is an economics specialist with his undergrad, masters and PhD in economics from Yale University. He is 30 years old, half white and half mexican from Austin, Texas. His father was an advisor to President Bush’s father, George HW Bush when he was Vice President through his Presidency. Prescott got hired out of family loyalty, and the fact that his family raised north of 2 million dollars for President Bush’s 2OOO election. Prescott is a compassionate conservative, someone who is empathetic while being a free marketer and advocating for small government. He is hoping to make a run for Governor of Texas when he is 38 years old, or maybe Texas Land Commissioner. His hope is that his time in Washington is for the duration of George Bush’s administration and that when he launches his gubernatorial run he will have the full support of the Bush family and the RNC behind him. Pentagon staff [[General Richard Schatz]] is a 45 year old two star Marine Corps General who is waiting to get his 3rd star and secretly hopes to be the first 5 star general since Dwight Eisenhower. He graduated top of his class from West Point and has had a distinguished and decorated career in the Marines. He served in the Gulf War where he received the Purple Heart, in Bosnia he received the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and a Silver Star, and for his actions in Kosovo he received the Medal of Valor from President Clinton. He accomplished this all before the age of 5O. While his wife wants him to go back to his West Point and teach war strategy, he takes a job in the Pentagon with the hope that he will be on the fast track to eventually getting his 4th and maybe 5th star. This is General Schatz first time dealing with bosses who are civilians rather than uniformed military personnel, he will have to toe the line between his personal aspirations and his love of country.

Welcome General Schatz You walk into Pentagon at O8OO and are met with Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz. He greets you and advises you to make your way to his office for a meeting this morning. Your response: "[[I am feeling under the weather]] this morning and I was going to sit at desk for a few hours. "[[Yes sir.]] Right away". "[[Go fuck yourself.]]".

You go into the supply closet and look at the memo. The first page is a memo from DOD and Donald Rumsfeld detailing a strategy of linking Saddam Hussein and Iraq to Osama Bin Laden, and the terrorist attacks on 9-11. The next section is titled, WHITE HOUSE IRAQ GROUP STRATEGY and several pages detail a mass media campaign put forth by Andy Card, Karl Rove and Dan Bartlett. The final section is a redacted DOD document, MILITARY ACTION IRAQ but before you get the chance to look through it the closet opens up. It's your fellow aide and friend James Tenent. James asks, "Why you are in the closet"? You're relieved but respond nervously: "[[Just getting more printer ink]] I have to make some copies for an oval office meeting today". "[[James, check out this memo]]. This is important. "[[I'm trying to find the cigarette stash]]. I know they keep some in here and I left mine in the car.

Returning to Rove he thanks you and says, “You're Mr. Warner from Texas right? I know a few friends in Austin you should meet someday. You keep this up and you can have it all kid". The next few weeks are filled with invitations to more senior staff meetings and you become more respected and well-known amongst higher staff. Before you know it, it's already [[September]] in the White House.

All copies were to be confiscated at the end of the meeting that morning. Your copy was recorded being printed, but was not found. Your desk is raided upon your return from lunch. You are fired. Return to [[Character selection]] and choose wisely.

James reads the memo and reports you to Andy Card. You are fired and threatened with espionage if you say anything about this. Return to [[Character selection]] and choose wisely.

James laughs, gives you his pack of Camels. He picks up some printer paper and accompanies you while making copies of the memo. James leaves you so you can [[return to Karl Rove]] and give him the copies.

Your incompetence is reported to U.S. Secretary of Defence Donald Rumsfeld. You are put on a month long suspension and return to the Pentagon having been demoted and your desk crammed along side White house aide interns. Feeling as though you have failed your country, you resign and are overthrown by the shame of your incompetence. Return to [[Character selection]] and choose wisely.

"Excellent. Take these documents to Mr.Rumsfeld's office on the way. He'll be expecting them". [[Deliver the documents]]

"Another one those days right General Schatz? Look just take these documents to Mr. Rumsfeld on the way. He's expecting them". [[Deliver the documents]]

<img class="irc_mi" src="https://si.wsj.net/public/resources/images/OB-XL048_051013_G_20130510150326.jpg" alt="Related image" onload="typeof google==='object'&&google.aft&&google.aft(this)" width="494" height="403" style="margin-top: 75px;"> You make your way to Donald Rumsfeld's office and find him at his desk, he asks you, "Are these from Paul"? "Yes sir", you replied. Rumsfeld's thanks you and proceeds to reach for the phone while you take your exit. By the time you leave the room, you hear a flustered Mr.Rumsfeld over the phone. You hear brief mention of a plan to get rid of Saddam Hussein... You think to yourself: "Fuck, I can't believe what I'm hearing. [[I have to get this on tape]]". "I need to get this out immediately. I should leak to [[The New York Times]] what I just heard". "Damn, this is insane.[[This was not meant for me to hear]], I won't believe the Bush administration would go for something like this".

You survive another day at the Pentagon, but you are racked with guilt over the potential war. A few days pass with nothing out of the ordinary. One afternoon you are told to attend [[Donald Rumsfeld's briefing]].

Donald Rumsfeld briefing at the Pentagon <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZgS6JggWtgE?start=14" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> [[Click when done-> At the Pentagon]]

The following week back at the Pentagon, you are at your desk and you hear Army Chief of Staff General Eric Shinseki and Donald Rumsfeld cursing each other out. You then follow Shinseki out of the Pentagon. He goes on to tell you that the original full deployment of Iraq was supposed ot be 6OO,OOO to a 1,OOO,OOO troops over the course of a year. Afterwards, a ten year plan for nation building and ifrastructure support. As a trusted friend, he offers you a file asks you to leak it for him. You respond: "Eric I trust you. I will leak it to [[The Washington Post]] for you". "Don't worry. I'll make sure this gets out". You get a close friend to leak it to the [[The New York Times]] for you instead of The Washington Post "[[I won't do that for you]] General".

Your leak makes the front page of The Washington Post. Your friend General Shinseki motions to recognize and reward you a 4th Star for your bold and heroic actions, the true motives of the Bush administration are shown to the entire world. Under the microscope, many of the warhawks resign. The administration softens their rhetoric towards Iraq and seek to develop an ICBM and Nuclear Arms Treaty with Iraq. During this process, the Kurds lead an uprising against Hussein and overthrow his regime. The Kurds set up Iraq as a democracy and it is no longer a hostile nation towards the United States. You live the rest of your political career as an [[unsung hero]].

While you may have tried to do the right thing and stand for ethics and justice amidst a corrupt administration, the Iraq War happens. [[President Bush announces invasion of Iraq]]

It is now September and Karl Rove invites you to a special senior staff meeting with President Bush. <img class="irc_mi" src="https://pixel.nymag.com/imgs/daily/intel/2012/07/10/10-gerson-bush-hughes.w700.h700.jpg" alt="Related image" onload="typeof google==='object'&&google.aft&&google.aft(this)" width="404" height="404" style="margin-top: 25px;"> In this meeting Chief Bush speechwriter, Michael Gerson, proposes the use of a "smoking gun/mushroom cloud" metaphor to sell the American public on the supposed nuclear dangers posed by Saddam Hussein. At the end of the meeting, it all starts to make sense. You think to yourself, "I need to go [[to my desk]] and collect my thoughts".

As you sit at your desk you go over what was being discussed at the meeting. The focus of the administration is ousting Saddam Hussien and going to war in Iraq. The public will be sure to support this motion after the devastaion of the Twin towers. You ponder your next move. While you enjoy being taken seriously and being involved in senior staff meetings, "At what cost?" is the question you ask yourself. You look at your notes and have to come to a heavy decision: "I need to make this public and leak it to [[The New York Times]] before it's too late". "[[I don't need to interfere]] and meddle with things if I want to keep moving up the ranks". "I should at the very least [[call my brother in the army]] and warn him about Iraq. It'll help get some of this off my chest". "[[I need a drink]]".

Your leak is received by Judith Miller at the New York Times and she outs you to the administration immediately. You are fired and later indicted under the Espionage act. [[Why did my leak backfire?]]

You sit back and swallow your pride to support with higher-up's decisions. Your compliance earns you an opportunity into a senior staff position with the perks of going on international trips on Airforce One, traveling in the presidential motorcade and hunting trips with Dick Cheney. Will you [[accept promotion]] and idly stand by while the country gets closer and closer to invading Iraq while also locking in your support as the governor of Texas from the Bush administration. or Decide to [[decline promotion]] and use your better connections with senior staff to put it all on the line place all your combined efforts on trying to put a stop to War in Iraq.

James Tenent overhears you speaking to your brother and rats you out to U.S Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld. You are asked to present your resignation and sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement or face imprisonment. Return to [[Character selection]] and choose wisely.

You get away from the White House and head to the closest bar. You have one too many drinks and begin shouting Iraq War propaganda along the streets of D.C. and soon find arrested by D.C. Metro police for disturbing the peace and public intoxication. The White House gains wind of your night out in the town and places you on a month long suspension. When you return, senior staff you once thought were your friends now turn the other way when walking in your direction. The shame forces you to turn in your resignation and move back to Texas. Return to [[Character selection]] and choose wisely.

You become personally enriched and members of the bush administration talk about your potential political influence outside the administration. You are certain to become the governor of Texas with your new support. While you may have tried to do the right thing and stand for ethics and justice amidst a corrupt administration, the Iraq War happens. [[President Bush announces invasion of Iraq]]

With your bold and heroic actions, the true motives of the Bush administration are shown to the entire world. Under the microscope, many of the warhawks resign. The administration softens their rhetoric towards Iraq and seek to develop an ICBM and Nuclear Arms Treaty with Iraq. During this process, the Kurds lead an uprising against Hussein and overthrow his regime. The Kurds set up Iraq as a democracy and it is no longer a hostile nation towards the United States. You live the rest of your political career as an [[unsung hero]].

**The underlying events that led to this "victory"** <img class="irc_mi" src="https://www.history.com/.image/t_share/MTU3ODc3NjU1OTQxMDMxNjQ3/george-w-bush-declares-mission-accomplished.jpg" onload="typeof google==='object'&&google.aft&&google.aft(this)" width="504" height="272" style="margin-top: 91px;" alt="Image result for bush mission accomplished"> In November of 2001, when Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld sent a memo to the White House with different questions, and starting points that would justify war with Iraq. Questions such as, Hussein moving against the Kurds, disputes over weapons of mass destruction inspections, and finding a link between Hussein, 9-11 and anthrax attacks. The Department of Defense was reaching for any possible connection between Hussein and the entire war on terror. The reality was, that Saddam was a power hungry strongman, whose sole focus was maintaining his power and control in Iraq. In late June of 2002, The Downing Street Memo from MI6 in Britain was shared with US intelligence. It detailed an attempt in the summer of 2002 by Hussein and his regime to acquire yellowcake uranium in Niger. Without questioning the validity of the report, it was taken up the chain of command and seen as a silver bullet for the narrative the Bush Administration wanted to put out to the public. **Karl Rove and members of the White House Iraq Group were tasked with spinning the narrative and selling the idea of war to the American people.** [[Thank you]]

**Welcome to Strategery!** <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Z61kpyZ7rIE" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> Be advised, this game is for mature players for its use of strong langugae. When done, click [[Iraq War Policy]] to continue

James asks you to hand him a pack of printer paper and accompanies you while making copies of the memo. James leaves you so you can [[return to Karl Rove]] and give him the copies.

Thank you for playing Strategery! Be sure to check out VICE in theaters this Christmas <iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/g09a9laLh0k" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe> Want to give it another try? Return to [[Character selection]]. This game was made possible by the CSULB's very own Ryan McGuirk, Moises Munoz and Brent Pothoven from Professor Smith's Fall 2018 History 306 class.

Leaker’s were not seen as heroes at this time. If you leaked or provided information to any press or political organization, you were seen as a traitor and emboldening the enemy. Judith Miller was a New York Times reporter that the Bush Administration heavily relied upon to spread their stories that lacked journalistic credibility. Through the use of Judith Miller at the New York Times, many far fetched stories were published about Hussein’s nuclear capabilities, and his end goals. As a reporter in the front pocket of the administration, the journalistic ethical standard went out the window. Return to [[Character selection]] and choose wisely.

At the end of the day you can look at yourself and say you did everything humanly possible to avert your country from engaging in one of the bloodiest and longest wars since Vietnam. [[Thank you]]