Bush: War is peace

When most of the world looks at the violence between Israel and Lebanon, it sees death and destruction. President Bush sees the cool, cleansing wind of change.

In the administration's view, the new conflict is not just a crisis to be managed. It is also an opportunity to seriously degrade a big threat in the region, just as Bush believes he is doing in Iraq. Israel's crippling of Hezbollah, officials also hope, would complete the work of building a functioning democracy in Lebanon and send a strong message to the Syrian and Iranian backers of Hezbollah.

"The president believes that unless you address the root causes of the violence that has afflicted the Middle East, you cannot forge a lasting peace," said White House counselor Dan Bartlett. "He mourns the loss of every life. Yet out of this tragic development, he believes a moment of clarity has arrived."

The new conflict is an "opportunity?" An opportunity for what, Armageddon? Lebanon has a Democracy. The Lebanese people are electing their own leaders, just as Palestinians elected their own governing party. Those leaders are not the ones the United States would have chosen for them, but that's the thing about democracy: the people get to decide for themselves. If they want Hamas, they get Hamas. If they want candidates backed by Syria, they get them. If they want George W. Bush, they get him.

It is truly frightening to read that Bush thinks the occupation of Iraq should be the model for change in the broader Middle East. What is happening in Iraq is a tragedy of biblical proportions. Bush wants this for Lebanon? For Syria? For Iran? Is the man insane?

Bush thinks the root cause of violence in the Middle East is the existence of groups like Hezbollah and Hamas. The majority of Israel's neighbors in the region think that the root causes of violence in the Middle East are the existence of Israel and its treatment of the Palestinian people. In the international community, the United States is practically alone in its position that Israel can do no wrong in the name of defending itself. A two-state solution to the Palestinian issue is seen by many experts as the surest way to establish lasting peace between Israel and its neighbors. Is this what Bush is talking about? If not, then he needs to explain exactly what he is talking about.

For now, the president's "war is peace" position seems to be the result of a complete lack of ideas, rather than any sort of strategy. He has no idea what to say, except "I thought you were gonna ask me about the pig!"

The Middle East is catching fire and Bush is just standing there, watching it burn. It is a "My Pet Goat" moment, only on a larger scale and with much more at stake.

"War is peace." God help us. It is as though these guys read "1984" and thought, now, that's how things oughtta be!