Bush in a Box. And I bet when he goes to sleep at night, being in this box this haunts him like the mother of all nightmares yet to happen. 'Cept he knows he's already in the box.
The way I see it, Bush has one viable option to end this stalemate in a dignified and honorable manner, and in a way sensitive to all parties involved. In short, a way to declare victory without the need for war!
America must first to call for a worldwide conference to comprehensively study exactly what breeds terrorism, why it takes hold and in what societies. Ultimately, why such actions lead to the deaths of so many innocent people worldwide. Theme: What can be done to improve people of the world.
Bush should request that the UN inspection team be doubled or tripled, perhaps even larger if necessary. Assure that this process has an unlimited budget and the best resources available on earth. After all, if Cheney's Haliburton buddies can get a no ceiling (was there any bid?) food contract for feeding overseas troops, why can't the UN at least get this?
The new and revitalized inspection team doing the work in Iraq will not include American inspectors. Americans will participate primarily in an advisory role, sharing intelligence and guidance, but will stay out of the country. Right now, there's too much bad blood between the US and Iraq and it's always the US spy thing that bogs down the inspection process. Leaving the Americans out of this process will help to reduce tension, making the team itself more credible.
In parallel with all of the above Bush should push for a limited phase out for lifting the UN sanctions against Iraq. This is necessary because of well-documented effects these sanctions have had upon the Iraqi citizenry, who never did anything to anybody. The resultant trade from the lifting of sanctions will enable other nations to take more proactive interest in Iraq, and this is good.
Bush should also use the bully pulpit to bring together, if not the leaders themselves, at least Israeli and Palestinian top-notched negotiators. He should bring them to Camp David for new talks. Insist to both parties that if they don't heed his call to negotiate, all foreign assistance will cease at a time certain. Put Powell in charge of the negotiations. Even bring in Ford, Carter and Clinton even in order to show that this really counts.
Consistent with the Camp David talks again use the bully pulpit to bring together Middle Eastern Arab leaders for a conference with a two-pronged objective:
1) Establish an Arabian watchdog group to: a) assist the UN inspection team; b) help mediate Saddam back into the fold of being a good leader, instead of a bad leader; c) determine a new policy for oil distribution that is sensitive to the needs of each Middle Eastern nation's respective economies and a means by which the profits from same can improve living conditions for those living in hardship; and d) establish an Arab study group to monitor the Camp David talks involving Isarael and Palestine and to determine how best to help mend the ages-worn conflict and eventually participate in that dialogue with the Israeli and Palestinian leaders.
2) Push for each of these nations to put out a united call to condemn terrorism.
Conclusion: Confident that some, if not all of the above, is in motion, me thinks Bush could go to sleep at night thinking he's on the verge of actually accomplishing something no other president has managed to do.
Indeed, he'd be sleeping out of the box and would wake up each day feeling nice, that just maybe he'd done something to help make the world a better place. And if a model can be established in the Middle East, the rest of the world awaits nurturing also. Give peace and meaningful self-determination a change. I mean ... why not! |
