In 14 months President George W. Bush will leave office. His accomplishments have been few. There are only three significant things he has done as president. First he lowered tax rates (this may have been a greater impact on the rich than the poor), second he created a prescription drug program for Medicare participants (some would say this was mainly a benefit to drug companies), and third he was instrumental in removing Saddam Hussein from power (and left this nation with a serious problem in Iraq).
Bush’s mistakes are to numerous to list here. I want to focus on peace in the Middle East. His objective is to obtain one really wonderful success that will enable him to be remembered in a positive light. It’s called “his legacy”.
A reading of history tells us that the likelihood of success is very remote. Bill Clinton, the master of communications, was unable to bring Yasser Arafat and Ehud Barak to agree on a peace settlement. George W. Bush is not known for is diplomatic talent. This AP analysis dated November 25 is worthwhile http://apnews.excite.com/article/20071125/D8T4Q05O0.html. How can he bring two groups that have been fighting for 60 years together in peace?
It is a nice gesture to bring all the Arab nations to this conference but the only two groups needed for peace are the Israelis and the Palestinians. As long as Hamas and Hezbollah terrorists continue to attack Israel there will not be a sustainable peace. The Palestinians do not have the will to stop the terrorists.
I expect that the Arab nations will demand land from Israel as a trade for peace. Israel has already withdrawn from southern Lebanon, the Sinai Peninsula, and Gaza but those withdrawals have not brought any peace. Will Israel’s withdrawal from the Golan Heights and all of the West bank territories bring peace? Sorry to say but I do not believe the Arabs will be satisfied until there is no state of Israel.
Coast Contact 