An Analysis of the Letter GeorgeBush Wrote to Saddam Hussein President George H.
Bush takesinitiative in a potentially threatening situation and writes to Saddam Hussein ina way that gently warns Hussein to assert control to avoid the start of a war. Initially, the letter is very forward towards Hussein and it is obvious to the audiencethat Bush is using an argumentative tone to avoid a serious consequence. Whenanalyzing the letter from a rhetorical aspect, it seems as if the letter iswritten with not just one audience.
Bush addresses the letter toHussein, but reading it more closely shows the ulterior aim of communicationwith a broader secondary audience by referencing “ we” in the start of theletter. While speaking to Hussein, Bush uses references to the secondaryaudience (in paragraph 1, 3, and 5) and repeats “ we” to show that he andHussein are not the only ones that are being affected by the outcome of thisletter. Throughout the entire piece, Bush repetitively brings up the people ofIraq as well as the people of the US, a tertiary audience to the letter. If Husseinchose to not fulfil what Bush is requesting, the Iraqi and the Americans wouldhave to assume further action. By the restatement of “ we”, Bush isshowing to readers that he is not only speaking for himself, but expressing thethoughts and words of others that are in agreement with him. In paragraph 7, Bush mentions other countries (Arab and Muslim countries) that stand by the disapprovalof Hussein’s tactics.
By providing the audience with examples of others who arein agreement with his argument, Bush is establishing his credibility andemphasizing to the audience and Hussein the importance of the information he isspeaking on. Bush uses these mentions of other political groups to indicate thesupport of his thoughts which further assists in accomplishing the goal of theletter. The objective of the letter is todraw the attention of the Iraqis to be in compliance with the UN Security Councilresolution which is directed towards Hussein from the start of the letter. As areader examines the letter more closely, Bush ties in “ we” (everyone inagreement with his argument), other Arab and Muslim countries, and mentions theentirety of the world, all serving the purpose of secondary audiences of thispiece of writing. Analyzing this letter rhetorically shows the logos being Bushpushing for Hussein to comply and avoid a war breaking out, the pathos isHussein and a secondary audience of the people of the US and Iraq, and theethos is Bush who speaks with an authoritative and confrontational attitude toconvince Hussein to retract the Iraqi from Kuwait.
