Jay Ambrose of Scrips Howard News Service believes George Bush may be on his way to becoming one of the greatest of our presidents.
The Bush administration, which had supported Mahmoud Abbas in the extraordinary and historic Palestinian election for president, also helped bring about the summit in Egypt at which Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon agreed to halt hostilities and reached across a table to grasp each other’s hand.
Photographers captured the moment that could lead to something lasting - peace, relief of Palestinian misery, diminished Arab anger and enhanced security for Israel.
It won’t be done without White House involvement that’s already been promised, but if it is done, George W. Bush will have accomplished what Richard Nixon failed to do, what Gerald Ford failed to do, what Jimmy Carter failed to do, what Ronald Reagan failed to do, what an earlier George Bush failed to do and what Bill Clinton failed to do. They all tried.
They all tried but George Bush was the only one of them who had the insight and intestinal fortitude to flatly refuse to deal with Arafat. For the first time in my adult memory there is now a real chance for peace between Palestine and Israel. This is in no small measure related to the example of Saddam Hussein, which is not lost upon leadership at all levels throughout the Middle East.
Another major step is the democratization of Iraq. On both left and right, critics have said this ambition is either gross stupidity or an idealism contrived to hide lies about why our military is really, truly in Iraq.
Stupidity, indeed. The Iraqi election was one of the most heartwarming world events I can remember in years.
At the risk of death, people voted, and then they danced and then they held aloft those fingers colored to demonstrate they had voted while cameras recorded their pride.
It was then impossible to believe Bush wrong when he had said that the call of liberty is universal.
No one, of course, is silly enough to pretend that changing the Middle East is a given or will be easy or that there aren’t contrary horrors that could also transpire, but Bush’s actions have made it possible that the Middle East could bloom into something marvelously humane and free.
I'll go along with Mr. Ambrose. George Bush is on the road to greatness, and I'm confident he'll travel that road to its destination.
I take it you're willing to overlook the needless and wasteful extra government spending. You do lean libertarian, right? :)
Posted by: Scott | February 13, 2005 at 06:59 PM
Yes, lean is the word.
Posted by: Tom Bowler | February 13, 2005 at 07:08 PM
probably just the wind
But seriously, if Iraq has the effect he wants, I'll re-evaluate. Until then, no way.
Posted by: Scott | February 13, 2005 at 07:46 PM