Recollection of a Bush Imbecility

Considering the Israeli-Arab conflict early in his administration, George W. Bush was warned by Secretary of State Colin Powell that comprehensive American action in the peace process [such as it was] is imperative to prevent the emergence of a more militaristic Israeli foreign policy, and to avoid dire consequences for innocent Palestinians.

Bush's response to the warning was stunning.

As recounted by Secretary of the Treasury, Paul O'Neill (O'Neill, The Price of Loyalty, Simon & Schuster; pp 71-72), Bush said, "Sometimes a show of strength by one side can really clarify things. ... [and restore 'balance']."

Putting aside the striking ambiguity of Bush's idea of balance and clarity as foreign policy objectives in arguably the most important region in the world, the results of the stupidity of Bush's hands-off-let-Israel-wage-war stance is now on display as just another catastrophe of the Bush administration as the death toll in Gaza mounts.

Let's hope the new Obama administration restores some rationality in foreign affairs.

Pictured below is a Palestinian woman and child at the site of a house damaged by Israeli air strikes on a nearby governmental building, December 30, 2008. (Hatem Omar/MaanImages)