Bending the Third Rail
Because We Should, We Can, We Do
Friday, January 27, 2006
The Magic Touch
From Slate today regarding Bush and the Hamas victory:
President Bush tried to put a positive spin on the results saying that "there was a peaceful process as people went to the polls" but it does not change the fact that his administration spent almost $500 million to help the Fatah party. Bush called on Hamas to denounce terrorism and urged President Mahmoud Abbas, who is from the Fatah party, to stay in office in order to continue with the peace process.
There really are a couple of lessons to be learned from the Hamas victory.

First is the unintended consequences of Iraq. When you undertake major major operations in foreign affairs you unleash unintended forces throughout the world. Part of being a good President is understanding this and at least attempting some kind of intelligent anticipation of these events.

Next, the United States has never been loved by Arabs. We are now absolutely radioactive. Israel is less secure because of our adventures and more radical forces are empowered to counter the United States and it's radicalism. This will continue until Bush is out and will then take a generation to repair.

Finally. And this almost goes without saying. Everything Bush touches turns to shit. He has that magic touch you know.

I've been thinking a bit lately about the conventional wisdom of western governments to "never negotiate with terrorists". Why not? More on this later hopefully.

Added: Money quote from Digby:
The man who is planning to run the mid-terms on his great success as a wartime president just facilitated the first elected Islamic terrorist government and delegitimized moderates throughout the region. That's quite an achievement.

Written at 8:18 AM by Greyhair.
0 comments