Free Republic

In his speeches yesterday, George W Bush did what he does best: he bolstered American confidence, forced Americans to look forward and reminded Americans of their own strength. What a difference a year makes. At the beginning of his presidency, Mr Bush seemed to many outside America as a little boy lost. He seemed lacking in decision and understanding. Within three days of September 11, he had the measure of what had happened, as he showed at the memorial service in Washington's National Cathedral. His mettle was again apparent on September 20, when he addressed the joint session of Congress....

The Chief Rabbi, Jonathan Sacks, is no stranger to controversy, and he has certainly stirred one up with his latest remarks about Israel. Dr Sacks sees the present conflict as "tragic, because it is forcing Israel into postures that are incompatible in the long run with our deepest ideals". He cannot abide the "hatreds and insensitivities that in the long run are corrupting to a culture". He is made "very uncomfortable as a Jew" by "things that happen on a daily basis". The only example he gives is his "profound shock" at pictures of cheery Israeli soldiers posing with a...

Why we should be worried about George W Bush 29jun02 THE world outside the US is now getting used to the fact Americans have a fraudulently elected nitwit as their president, but George W. Bush excelled himself this week with a "long-awaited" definitive speech on Middle East policies that stretched even the weirdest imaginations. BRUCE WILSON in London reports: US embassies around the world moved to "explain" the batty future Bush saw for Israel and Palestine, but nothing could disguise that the bedbug was running the White House and anything could happen next. Hey, look. Even Tom Cruise is worried....