Another chicken and the egg controversy?

The end does not justify the means. Bush said something similar.
The end justifies the means. If the latter were followed, the former would be claimed.

If the end justifies the means, what justifies the end?
If the end does not justify the means, we still need to ask what justifies the end.

If the end justifies the means, asking questions threatens the truth.
If asking questions is threatened, how will we begin, let alone end?

Where does the buck start, let alone stop?