Ray: Thanks for your responses. Strictly for convenience, I'll reply in reverse order.
You might wish to be a bit less dismissive of my news gathering/historical background checking.
Not as long as you suggest that you're more up to speed on national security issues like this after one or two days' reading than the leader of the free world is during a war footing. Sorry, dood, just calling a spade a spade, even if it was hyperbole. ;-)
As far as the specific citations of Bush's lack of diplomatic and statesman skills...
<hyperbole=on>
Kyoto was already dead, both on the world stage and in the Congress. Bush just called the time of death. Not a cherished job, but somebody's gotta do it before the body can be delivered to the morgue and the survivors can begin the morning process.
</hyperbole=off>
FWIW, we can simply agree to disagree on the wisdom of Bush's insistence on not re-negotiating he 1972 ABM treaty and instead pursue a missile defense system, both decisions which I support. Sometimes reasonable minds differ on strategic decisions like these, but that doesn't mean that they are indicative of a lack of diplomatic skills. From my perspective, they are an indication of strategic vision and courageous leadership. You'll probably find this preposterous, but I think "shrub" (so often underestimated) actually has that vision thingy, kinda like Reagan. <g>
Best regards,
Razor |
