Bush & Rice: Learning Middle East Policy The Hard Way

The question is , " Can a moron, George Bush and a pickaninny, Condi Rice be taught middle east foreign policy on the job?". And the answer is, " Maybe".

Consider the cost, app. $ 700 billion so far spent by the U.S., app. 3200 American dead, app. 72,000 American casualties, app. 700,000 Iraqi dead, app. 1,000,000 Iraqi casualities and app. 2,000,000 Iraqi refugees.

Our dangerous duo were recently handed a test that required them to formulate a response to the new Palestinian " unity government ". Well they didn't pass it but they didn't flunk it either. That's an improvement . America's has adopted a new policy towards the Palestinians that leaves the door open for contact and support. This breaks lock step with Israel which is our burden and pilot fish in middle eastern affairs. But Israel will continue to boycott the new " unity government". Considering the lives and resources spent on the Bush/Rice education, it's not much to show. but it's something.

Meanwhile, Britain, France, Russia, Norway and others have broken with the U.S./Israel approach and will seek to normalize relations and aid to the Palestinians. A large part of what has been wrong with Middle East these past 60 years has it's roots in the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. Bush and Rice could have and should have addressed this problem thousands of lives ago and billions of dollars ago.