Sunday, August 17, 2008

Perhaps, maybe, Bush has done something right?

Fareed Zakaria of Newsweek makes a provocative claim on the cover of this past week's issue: There are some things that Bush has recently gotten right, at least in foreign policy. The Bush Obama and McCain are running against is the one who created all those fiascoes before 2006, especially in Iraq in 2003-2006. In the last couple years Bush has quietly changed course simply because even he saw they weren't working. It seems in this environment of the flip-flop-gotcha he didn't want to advertise things are being done differently. Zakaria credits Bush with these successes (or at least improvements) that follow earlier (sometimes disastrous) failures:

* Iraq is much more stable than in 2003-2005.

* Spending on the Afghan Army has increased considerably.

* The six-nation talks have gotten North Korea to the point it might be taken off the terror list.

* He has sent an American representative to join Europeans in recent discussions with Iran.

* He is actually getting involved in the Israel-Palestine issue.

* He is recognizing relations with China will be central over the next century.

* He has increased funding for AIDS in Africa through PEPFAR, a success recognized by both parties.

* Condi Rice seems to control foreign policy instead of Dick Cheney.

By highlighting this story I do not imply I think Bush is a wonderful guy. I still think he should be impeached and I grumble at saying anything nice about him. Bush is still a disaster at home (FISA is only one example) and he is still fumbling on many other foreign policy issues (torture, Nigeria, Darfur, and Mexico). Zakaria's purpose in writing this article is to say that the incoming president should not simply repudiate what Bush has done and start doing the opposite. We've already had one president who did exactly that. His name was George W. Bush.

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