[BigWaveBetty]

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.

Yada, yada, yada... Will these "leaders" and hacks like Kristof ever see the light? Not likely since their heads are embedded in Arafathead's rear.

[mewzilla]

If anyone else recalls it, there is a terrific editorial cartoon that came out after 9-11. In it, Bush was drawn as a fierce Roman gladiator who was going off to battle while some prostrate toga-clad Euroweenie simpered in the backround. I'll see if I can find it to post. It sums up this article perfectly.

[Cautor]

Thanks for the post Betty. Bush bases his foreign policy on common sense and morality. Wow, the rest of the world and Foggy Bottom as well just can't seem to grasp that. I love it!

[mewzilla]

Well, I found it. It's entitled The Lone Warrior, and it's by the Seattle PI's Dave Horsey, and it's dated 02/07/02.

Click here to see the cartoon.

[Miss Marple]

Finally someone is paying attention! I noticed Putin's smile and in fact, Putin defended a press attack on Bush about WorldCom and the democrats using it as a campaign issue. It was amazing.

I think that the European leaders are on board...it is just that the press for the most part refuses to see it.

Witness the British press rumblings from Blair aides. Or the Australian article about Blair splitting with Bush over Arafat. Fabrications of the liberal mind, nothing more.

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

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.

Wow - what a summation. (Pinging some others to read this). Thanks for the post.

[Carolinamom]

Chirac "let it be known that in his view, the President of America was acting without nuance."

This is no time for "nuance". I prefer President Bush's CLEAR talk myself.

[nicmarlo]

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.

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. 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. Something more than lacking in the (shameful, despicable, lying, selfish, cheating) previous occupant of the White House.

[Wait4Truth]

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!

[Carolina]

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.

I am so sick of being "nuanced" to death where right is left, up is down, black is white, right is wrong.

Enough with "fair is foul and foul is fair" that the oh-so-sophisticated would shove down our throats. Their particular brand of sophistry has not produced. PERIOD.

I say "BASTA!"

[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?

[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...

[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.

[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!