Almost another conspiracy theory? I suppose the question could be asked; were the new conservatives ever in charge of this Administration's ME policy?
As far as welcoming Gaddafi back in, Bush has given every indication that Libya has a long way to go before it's relationship with the US will be cordial. That's what suprises me about Bush, not only in this but also in other circumstances.
When all those supporting unilateral premption are saying there you go, it works, Bush is saying hang on, I'm looking for the sort of outcomes that include "freedom and democracy" etc.
Having read a bit from both (is it many?) sides about Bush, and neglecting the "eternal" anti-US spin that emanates from all sorts of unlikely as well as predictable sources, I am gaining the impression that Bush is very much his own man. By that I mean his moral, as contrasted to diplomatic, (and within the constraints of his own ideological position) approach.
The complaint from both the left and right about Bush, is that he breaks all the rules of diplomacy and is too simplistic in his solutions.
That may be true but I wonder if a look back from the future may not indicate that his radical approach in the embrace of value judgements, like right and wrong,good and evil, which are despised values in "diplomatic" circles and a post modern world, are not the ones that in fact did usher in a better world because one leader was willing to govern, with at least a view to those principles.
(Of course the article is not really about Bush but I think the mistake may be to believe in a picture of Bush that makes him captive to some ideological group. The diversity within his administration; Rumsfeld to Powell should have given the clue to the observant that Bush is very much his own man).
An interesting article none the less.
Back off to the beach, now, to evaluate the latest female beach fashions and show my grand kids how to surf. Trouble is they are familiar with books like Jan and Stan Beranstain's "The Bike Lesson" and I suspect don't show the respect a pa should get. So for the rest of the month it will be some beach, mixed with a bit of work in between, to keep the wolfowitz from the door.
Hope you kept sober over the festive season, jonesy
