Bush Keeps It Clear & Simple

New York Daily News ^ | 6-30-2002 | Zev Chafets

[BigWaveBetty]

Summit conferences of the G-8 are a lot more fun than they used to be. Not so long ago, they were nothing more than extended cocktail parties for the rich, predictable leaders of rich, predictable nations. But in recent years, anti-globalization protesters have given these conclaves a sense of drama and even danger.

Last week in Alberta, the Canadians kept the demonstrators miles away. There was excitement, however, courtesy of a revolutionary named President Bush.

At Alberta, Bush tossed a Molotov cocktail at conventional Middle East diplomacy by announcing that there would be no Palestinian state until the Palestinians dumped Yasser Arafat and accepted basic Western norms of political behavior.

New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof reported that Bush's G-8 colleagues reacted to this by "wincing, gulping and disagreeing." According to Kristof, these leaders think Bush is "nuts" to insist that Arafat step down.

This assessment reflects the conventional wisdom of the international press corps. After Bush met with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a reporter pointedly asked Bush if he was "astonished" by the reaction of his fellow leaders.

"The response has been positive, and for that I am grateful," Bush said blandly. And a strange thing happened. A smiling Putin neither winced nor gulped.

Putin was not alone in failing to register the requisite outrage. Earlier in the conference, British Prime Minister Tony Blair came very close to endorsing the President's new policy, a posture Kristof chalks up to good manners.

Italy's Silvio Berlusconi is not known for excessive politesse, but he, too, signed on with Bush. "If I were Arafat," said the Italian premier, "I would make a grand gesture." Berlusconi did not specify whether the Palestinian leader should use cyanide or a pistol.

Canada and Japan said nothing audible about the new American policy, and in any event, neither is a Middle Eastern player. Germany's Gerhard Schroeder mumbled some words of disagreement but for obvious reasons refrained from an emotional public defense of Arafat's terror war against the Jewish state.

Only French President Jacques Chirac conformed to expectations. He let it be known that in his view, the President of America was acting without nuance.

The G-8's final communiqué did not make this point. It called for a two-state solution "within secure borders" and pointed to "the urgency of reform of Palestinian institutions and its [sic] economy and of free and fair elections." The statement stopped short of demanding Arafat's head (although, given Arafat's life-long incorrigibility, it came close). But it did sound a lot like the President's recipe, hold the adjectives.

Bush's success is a great frustration to his worldly critics, and a great mystery. They do not understand how such a rube (the man never even spent a semester in Europe) keeps getting his way with foreigners.

In less than two years, Bush has savaged conventional wisdom by dropping the anti-ballistic missile treaty, green-lighting Star Wars, walking away from the Kyoto global warming pact, boycotting a United Nations conference on human rights and saying no to the new international criminal court in The Hague. He has taken the U.S. to war without the permission of a coalition, restored "good" and "evil" to the language of big-power diplomacy and introduced an American defense doctrine of unilateral preemption. And now he is insisting that the price of self-determination should be civilized behavior.

This is a foreign policy revolution unmatched even by President Ronald Reagan.

Bush knows that civilization requires America to run the world — and that if it isn't run according to clear and simple principles, it can't be run at all.

E-mail: zchafets@yahoo.com

[Let's Roll]

CLEAR talk is right. The stakes are too high to risk the confusion that evolves from nuance (the very word conjures up the gallic shrug of "whatever"). The professional pols love nuance - it helps justify their existence - as in only we understand the subtleties here - just go back to your bread and circuses and/or when situations start to go south the pols still have some wiggle room.

They don't understand the compliment GWB pays to the people he leads when he tells it like it is.

[The Raven]

And a strange thing happened. A smiling Putin neither winced nor gulped.

Holy smokes...do you mean the press hasn't been giving it to us straight? They're injecting their own thoughts into the story?

[BigWaveBetty]

Gee, imagine that. Someone who leads. And it would be a tad bit more accurate to say in just over one year......he's done all these things.

And still when you ask a clintoon lover to name three things clintoon did in eight years they come up with nothing. Or even better they try the old "Welfare Reform!" cry. heehehe!

[Ole Okie]

Bush is able to do what he does because he is led by a Power and a Will higher than himself and toward goals which are unselfish. He has strength, character, and moral conviction. In a word, Bush is a leader.

And to think; he's not even carrying a 10 pound Bible like his predecessor always did when in trouble.

This is a great article.

[BigWaveBetty]

Thanks for this article! I emailed the writer and thanked him for what he wrote about President Bush. It was nice to see some honest words about our common-sense President!

Yes, let's make his day! :-) Everybody email Zev!

zchafets@yahoo.com

[Wait4Truth]

Great idea! When writers speak the truth, we should all email them to express our support and gratitude. The other day, a Milwaukee BLACK representative changed his party affiliation from RAT to the GOP. I sent him an email immediately expressing my support for his decision. If we support people speaking the truth, perhaps it will embolden them. We must fight the liars at every turn - every turn.

[Dales]

And now he is insisting that the price of self-determination should be civilized behavior.

It isn't optional. Thuggery should not be given a blind eye.

[Starwind]

fyi...

[B4Ranch]

Italy's Silvio Berlusconi is not known for excessive politesse, but he, too, signed on with Bush. "If I were Arafat," said the Italian premier, "I would make a grand gesture." Berlusconi did not specify whether the Palestinian leader should use cyanide or a pistol.

[nicmarlo]

And still when you ask a clintoon lover to name three things clintoon did in eight years they come up with nothing

So true. But they always insist, "he did lots of things." Gag.

[Kermit]

""If I were Arafat," said the Italian premier, "I would make a grand gesture." Berlusconi did not specify whether the Palestinian leader should use cyanide or a pistol."

Hmmm, this sounds like a mission for Tom Lantos, he has experience suggesting to people (Craig Livingstone) that they commit su-ii-ciddde.

[nicmarlo]

he's not even carrying a 10 pound Bible

You don't need to if you know the Scriptures....and GW obviously knows them......Klintoon was all "show and tell." Yes, it's a very good article. I have already e-mailed the writer with my thoughts, earlier:

Dear Mr. Chafets, I enjoyed your article. It's refreshing to read things positive about the abilities of our current Commander-in-Chief, especially in the "mainstream" media.

[BigWaveBetty]

Here's mine:

Dear Mr. Chafets,

My thanks for an article written with the truth. I'm so weary of the lies and obfuscation of "journalists" like Mr. Kristof.

I have sent it to many of my friends and have already received at least twenty grateful responses on your piece.

I will continue to look for more of your work.

My sincerest thanks,
Real name here.

[self_evident]

Berlusconi did not specify whether the Palestinian leader should use cyanide or a pistol.

THE PISTOL!!! Definately the pistol.

[rintense]

A great article. To me, the biggest point is the use of 'seemingly unconventional' when describing the President. This is why the left hates him, and the far right loathe him- he is unpredictable and doesn't think inside the box of any political philosophy.

[gonzo]

Kaboom.......FRegards

[Reagan Man]

"In less than two years, Bush has savaged conventional wisdom by dropping the anti-ballistic missile treaty, green-lighting Star Wars, walking away from the Kyoto global warming pact, boycotting a United Nations conference on human rights and saying no to the new international criminal court in The Hague. He has taken the U.S. to war without the permission of a coalition, restored "good" and "evil" to the language of big-power diplomacy and introduced an American defense doctrine of unilateral preemption. And now he is insisting that the price of self-determination should be civilized behavior.
This is a foreign policy revolution unmatched even by President Ronald Reagan.
Bush knows that civilization requires America to run the world — and that if it isn't run according to clear and simple principles, it can't be run at all."

Good article Starwind.

Thanks

[Mo1]

Bush's success is a great frustration to his worldly critics, and a great mystery. They do not understand how such a rube (the man never even spent a semester in Europe) keeps getting his way with foreigners.

It's real simple .. You are either with us .. or you are with the enemy

Meaning .. either jump on the wagon or be left out .. and we WILL remember who our friends are ..

Thanks for the ping Freedom'sWorthIt

[ohioWfan]

Bush knows that civilization requires America to run the world — and that if it isn't run according to clear and simple principles, it can't be run at all.

Clear and simple principles based on an understanding of eternal truths. This President lives his faith, and IMO, that's where this fearless strength and bold leadership come from.

Thanks for the great article BWB, and thanks for the pings, FWI and MM!

Presidential Leadership Ping to the rest of you!

[The Great Satan]

Great article!