US First Lady Laura Bush should fire whoever thought it was a good idea to throw her into the lion’s den of Middle East politics. And, if that political nincompoop happens to be the President himself, then she should pull a Lysistrata on him until he goes blue…in the face! (Come to think of it, if Mrs. Bush had pulled a preemptive Lysistrata on her war-mongering husband 2 years ago, the Middle East would undoubtedly be more hospitable not only to her but to all Americans today. But I digress…)
Laura Bush being escorted like a high value target (for assassination) than as the First Lady of the United states!
Alas, there she was on Sunday – the serene and politically ingenuous Mrs. Bush being heckled and jostled by Jews and Arabs alike as she tried to pirouette gracefully between two of the most rabid warring factions known to mankind. And, for a White House that scripts and controls its principals at every turn, this turn of events must rank as a monumental blunder.
After all, Mrs Bush was supposedly sent on a goodwill mission to improve the image of the US in the Muslim world. (Notwithstanding political cynics who speculate that President Bush sent his wife on this ill-fated foray through the holy minefield that the Al-Aqsa Mosque and Western Wall have become with the same hubris and provocative intent that he sent up his nomination of John Bolton as US ambassador to the United Nations.) Nevertheless, pictures of Mrs Bush being escorted by a phalanx of Israeli security forces over holy ground that Palestinians believe should be in their exclusive control hardly fosters goodwill. Because they only reinforce the Muslim view that America seeks ultimately to legitimize Israel’s military occupation of their territories.
But why send a refined librarian onto this perennially hostile public stage? Incidentally, the very stage where Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon barely survived a similar foray in 2000 and left an 18 month Al-Aqsa Intifada (Palestinian uprising) in his wake.
Well, it seems some genius in the White House thought that because Mrs. Bush wowed a gaggle of sycophantic reporters with scripted jokes at a Washington gala that she could also charm the bellicose edge off militant zealots in the Middle East. Unfortunately, this presumption says as much about the simple-mindedness of American foreign policy as having troops march into Baghdad with guns blazing and expecting rose petals to be thrown along their path by grateful and adoring Muslims. Indeed, Mrs. Bush’s charm offensive in Palestine proved as effective as America’s military offensive is Iraq is turning out to be.
But is there an appropriate role for Mrs. Bush in international affairs? Absolutely!
Laura Bush performing a more traditional first lady role and looking much happier for it too…
The next day Mrs Bush received a more dignified welcome (as first lady) at an afternoon tea where she discussed women’s rights and other genteel issues with some of the more liberated women of the Middle East. And, at least the atmospherics of this outing are more consistent with Mrs Bush’s mission of goodwill to improve the image of the US in the Muslim world.
Hope springs eternal…
News and Politics
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.