I don't think it is buying friendship as much as his attitude that if he keeps being nice to them, they will eventually start being nice in return. That is just not true with many people or nations....Harry Reid, Dick Durbin, Putin, etc.
Bush has not learned this yet. While such an attitude may be admirable in one's personal life, it is not appropriate for a leader. Bullies are just emboldened by apparent weakness.
Funny............I don't think the terrorists think of our leader as being weak.......
That's so true because, as most of us here know, nations do not have friends, only interests. I can be friends with people from any country on earth including Iran, North Korea, and Syria, but I despise them as nations.