Watching the recently concluded European journey by President George Bush, it is easy to see that his whole approach to the likes of Gerhard Shroder and Jacques Chirac is to be more cordial. An attempt at fence-mending. He, on the one hand, criticized President Vladimir Putin for his current approach to democracy in Russia, but then honored him with a summit meeting in Bratislava. Our staunchest ally, Prime Minister Tony Blair, was treated to breakfast.
It appears that on all the contentious issues Mr. Bush struck a conciliatory note. His actions made it very clear that we need allies at this time when our forces and resources are overstretched. These are gestures that appear to be a break from the tone of his first term. The hope must be that this Bush overture should produce responses. Did his visit actually change anything? No, but the atmosphere certainly opens doors for discussions on Iran, Syria, a viable Palestinian state, the European decision to lift their arms embargo to China, North Korea, democracy in Russia, NATO's future and many more issues.
George W.Bush appears to have decided to manage American diplomacy during his second term.
My hope is that the more moderate conservatism of the Sec.of State, his trusted friend, Condoleeza Rice, will prevail over the most influential arch-conservatives on the team; vice-president Dick Cheney and the secretary of defense, Donald Rumsfeld.
It was George W. Bush at his best this past week.
In a new book, "Command of Office" subtitled "The Transformation of the American Presidency from Theodore Roosevelt to George W. Bush." author Stephen Graubard writes that the importance of the office of President of the United States has grown exponentially over the past 70 years, but the quality of the occupants has declined dramatically. He wrote of Eisenhower, "he was a five star general out of his depth." Kennedy was "a boy wonder" whose record in office was grossly exaggerated posthumously: Carter was a "moral puritan and economic profligate;" Reagan "an accomplished, self-invented hero;" Clinton "a serial prevaricator;" George Bush senior "a New England stiff" while he dismisses the incumbent as "Reagan's boy."
I know the question I still yearn to ask the President; Mr Bush now can you tell me, why are we in Iraq? I still don't know.