I agree.
...and worth the effort to see if it could take root in Arabia
I strongly disagree. Bush II was gambling here. He had to have known that the odds were against him; there are NO true liberal muslim democracies, and there is a reason for that.
But Bush foolishly rolled the dice anyway. History will show that he lost that roll. And the effects are now coming faster and faster.
America and the West will pay dearly for Bush's foolish, long-shot gamble.
After 9/11, it was hard to argue that things could get worse. There was a reasonable guess that things could get better. Added with all the other attributes of the situation, The U.S. Senate and the American polity agreed to invade Iraq. Bush led, and America wanted it too. So, we were in it together. Including Clinton and Kerry.
“Foolish” is easy to identify retroactively. A few thought it foolish at the time, but they lost politically. That’s the way the ball bounces.
Bush didn’t lose the roll of the dice. 0bama walked away and lost the game that Bush had either won or drawn to a tie.
America and the West will pay dearly for 0bama’s continuous support of Islam against Western Civilization.
Let’s put the blame squarely where it belongs: The President who sells us out to our enemies each and every day.