Free Republic

From the day President Bush took office, the long knives were out for him - in ways they will not (and should not) be out for President-elect Barack Obama. The chattering class saw Dubya as a walking style crime in a cowboy suit. They hit Bush for everything - for the way he mangled syntax, for the books he read, because he worked out too much. Note now that the buff Obama is taking office, stories gushing about Obama's daily workouts flood the channels. Oh, yes, and the same people who belittled Bush for sending troops to war even though...

FOR EIGHT years George W. Bush pulled the levers of government—sometimes frantically—never realizing that they were disconnected from the machinery and the exertion was largely futile. As a result, the foreign and security policies declared by the president in speeches, in public and private meetings, in backgrounders and memoranda often had little or no effect on the activities of the sprawling bureaucracies charged with carrying out the president’s policies. They didn’t need his directives: they had their own.Again and again the president declared “unacceptable” activities that his administration went on to accept: North Korean nuclear weapons; North Korean missile tests;...

Two events earlier this month summed up differing views of George W. Bush's Middle East record. In one, Bush himself offered a valedictory speech, declaring that "the Middle East in 2008 is a freer, more hopeful, and more promising place than it was in 2001." In the other, an Iraqi journalist, Muntadar al-Zaidi, expressed disrespect and rejection by hurling shoes at Bush as the U.S. president spoke in Baghdad, yelling at him, "This is a farewell kiss! Dog! Dog!" Ironically, Zaidi's very impudence confirmed Bush's point about greater freedom; would he have dared to throw shoes at Saddam Hussein?While I...

One theme that has become noticeably absent from Barack Obama's recent press announcements, his weekly internet broadcasts, or his discussion of public policy from his imaginary "Office of the President Elect" (complete with its own seal) has been the discussion of immediately bringing the troops home. The signs of Barack Obama going back on his biggest direct campaign promise are numerous. Secretary Gates is slated to stay on as his Defense Secretary. By extension that means that a number of items will likely not be touched. For starters it is likely the new administration will not revise Iraq policy given...

Former Secretary of State George P. Shultz says President-elect Barack Obama should practice President Bush's doctrine of pre-emptive defense against terrorism that has kept the country safe since the Sept. 11 attacks. Mr. Shultz credited Mr. Bush with pushing "a controversial but important idea" he said has made the U.S. a harder target when other nations were being hit by terrorists. "That is, that in this age where there are people who want to do damage to us through terrorist tactics, you want to be aggressive in trying to find out what might happen before it happens, and then stop...

On November 8, 2008 newly elected US President Barack Obama in a telephonic conversation with President Zardari offered to play role in revival of Depleting Economic condition and fortifying the bilateral relations of two countries. He also said that he looked forward to further improve mutual relations and will provide full support for Democracy to Pakistan being their important ally. President Zardari while reciprocating his sentiments expressed the hope for better and improved relations between the two countries in coming days. Though Pakistan supported US out rightly in war against terror during Musharraf regime but even then relations between Washington...

WASHINGTON -- It is an odd thing to observe a historical debate on events about which one possesses the knowledge of a participant -- something like watching archeologists dig and sift through your living room, proposing their own interpretations of your photos and knickknacks. And it raises a disturbing prospect: That most such debates are conducted by experts possessing great confidence and little knowledge. This controversy began when ABC's Charles Gibson asked Sarah Palin to give her view of the Bush doctrine. Palin's vague answer provoked a dismissive response from Gibson, who defined the doctrine as "anticipatory self-defense." Charles Krauthammer...

Sarah Palin's reputation survived her interview with ABC News' Charlie Gibson. The same cannot be said for Charlie Gibson. On my radio show last week, I twice defended Barack Obama. Once, against those conservatives who took a comment made by Obama in an interview with George Stephanopoulos out of context and suggested that Obama had inadvertently admitted he was a Muslim. And again, when I contended that Obama did not imply that Palin was a pig in his now famous "lipstick on a pig" reference. I mention this only because I want to assume that people of good will on...

Charlie Gibson’s three-part interview (video) with Republican vice presidential candidate Gov. Sarah Palin last week scored big in the ratings, reports trade pub Broadcasting & Cable ... The portion of the interview that created the most buzz was Gibson’s “gotcha” line of questioning on the Bush Doctrine that Palin gamely parried as she tried to figure out what, exactly, he was asking her to comment on until Gibson clarified his question with what turned out to be an incomplete explanation of the Bush Doctrine ... Amazingly, the most sympathetic reactions to Palin’s predicament over the Bush Doctrine came from Dem...

Sarah Palin may be excused for not knowing "the Bush doctrine." The term was thrown at her like a curve ball during an interview last week by ABC's Charles Gibson, whose own description was incomplete. But her assertion of a potential new "doctrine" – one she might bring to the White House – is far less pardonable. She said during that interview that the United States "must do whatever it takes" to fight terrorism. This implies the same amoral existentialism that terrorists use. It goes against the very principles of Western civilization that the jihadists seek to destroy. Ever since...

SARAH Palin, John McCain's vice-presidential running mate, continues to drive the liberal establishment mad - both in the US and around the world (including Australia). When McCain first chose Palin as his running mate, every liberal commentator called it a disaster. She gave a brilliant speech atthe Republican convention and the McCain ticket suddenly shot ahead of Barack Obama, nationally and in key battleground states. The liberal consensus replied that she didn't write the speech herself, as though Obama, McCain and Obama's running mate, Joe Biden, don't have speech writers. Just wait till Palin has to do unscripted interviews, they...

Obama interview: How does it feel to break a glass ceiling? How does it feel to “win”? How does your family feel about your “winning” breaking a glass ceiling? Who will be your VP? Should you choose Hillary Clinton as VP? Will you accept public finance? What issues is your campaign about? Will you visit Iraq? Will you debate McCain at a town hall? What did you think of your competitor’s [Clinton] speech? Palin interview: Do you have enough qualifications for the job you’re seeking? Specifically have you visited foreign countries and met foreign leaders? Aren’t you conceited to be...

<p>WASHINGTON -- Informed her? Rubbish.</p> <p>The Times got it wrong. And Charlie Gibson got it wrong.</p> <p>There is no single meaning of the Bush doctrine. In fact, there have been four distinct meanings, each one succeeding another over the eight years of this administration -- and the one Charlie Gibson cited is not the one in common usage today.</p>

I guess newsboy Charlie Gibson was the one who didn't do his homework. If, instead of being cute and trying to play gotcha, he had simply asked whether she agreed with the policy of preemptive strikes on America's would-be enemies, he would have been fine. But he was too clever by half. From The Washington Post. Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin seemed puzzled Thursday when ABC News anchor Charles Gibson asked her whether she agrees with the "Bush doctrine." "In what respect, Charlie?" she replied. Intentionally or not, the Republican vice presidential nominee was on to something. After a brief exchange,...

September 13, 2008 Op-Ed Columnist She’s Not Ready By BOB HERBERT While watching the Sarah Palin interview with Charlie Gibson Thursday night, and the coverage of the Palin phenomenon in general, I’ve gotten the scary feeling, for the first time in my life, that dimwittedness is not just on the march in the U.S., but that it might actually prevail. How is it that this woman could have been selected to be the vice presidential candidate on a major party ticket? How is it that so much of the mainstream media has dropped all pretense of seriousness to hop aboard...

"At times visibly nervous . . . Ms. Palin most visibly stumbled when she was asked by Mr. Gibson if she agreed with the Bush doctrine. Ms. Palin did not seem to know what he was talking about. Mr. Gibson, sounding like an impatient teacher, informed her that it meant the right of 'anticipatory self-defense.' " -- New York Times, Sept. 12 Informed her? Rubbish. The New York Times got it wrong. And Charlie Gibson got it wrong. There is no single meaning of the Bush doctrine. In fact, there have been four distinct meanings, each one succeeding another over...

Many Versions of 'Bush Doctrine' Palin's Confusion in Interview Understandable, Experts Say By Michael Abramowitz Washington Post Staff Writer Saturday, September 13, 2008; A01 Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin seemed puzzled Thursday when ABC News anchor Charles Gibson asked her whether she agrees with the "Bush doctrine." "In what respect, Charlie?" she replied. Intentionally or not, the Republican vice presidential nominee was on to something. After a brief exchange, Gibson explained that he was referring to the idea -- enshrined in a September 2002 White House strategy document -- that the United States may act militarily to counter a perceived threat...

Charles Krauthammer, the man who coined the phrase “Bush doctrine,” turns the table on the condescending Charlie Gibson. Take off your smart glasses, Charlie. Because you’ve been schooled: The New York Times got it wrong. And Charlie Gibson got it wrong. There is no single meaning of the Bush doctrine. In fact, there have been four distinct meanings, each one succeeding another over the eight years of this administration — and the one Charlie Gibson cited is not the one in common usage today. It is utterly different. He asked Palin, “Do you agree with the Bush doctrine?” She responded,...

... Bush's refreshing question was: Why? We don't need Russians cutting our offensive weapons through arms-control treaties. And we don't need Russians telling us whether or not to build defensive weapons. This was the genesis of the Bush Doctrine, now taking shape as the Administration takes power....