The end of cowboy diplomacy (for Bush) (TIME)

[rodeodance]

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/07/09/coverstory.tm.tm/index.html?section=cnn_topstories&eref=yahoo

The end of cowboy diplomacy
Why the 'Bush Doctrine' no longer works for Bush administration

Sunday, July 9, 2006; Posted: 12:46 p.m. EDT (16:46 GMT)

Editor's note: The following is a summary of this week's Time magazine cover story.


Time.comexternal link -- All the good feeling at the White House at President Bush's early birthday party on July 4 couldn't hide the fact that the president finds himself in a world of hurt.

A grinding and unpopular war in Iraq, a growing insurgency in Afghanistan, an impasse over Iran's nuclear ambitions, brewing war between Israel and the Palestinians -- the litany of global crises would test the fortitude of any president, let alone a second-termer with an approval rating mired in Warren Harding territory.

And there's no relief in sight. On the very day that Bush celebrated 60, North Korea's regime, already believed to possess material for a clutch of nuclear weapons, test-launched seven missiles, including one designed to reach the U.S. homeland.

Even more surprising than the test (it failed less than two minutes after launch), though, was Bush's response. Long gone were the zero-tolerance warnings, "Axis of Evil" rhetoric and talk of pre-emptive action.

Instead, Bush pledged to "make sure we work with our friends and allies ... to continue to send a unified message" to Pyongyang. In a news conference after the missile test, he referred to diplomacy a half dozen times.

The shift under way in Bush's foreign policy is bigger and more seismic than a change of wardrobe or a modulation of tone. ............

[cliss]

1. 'Bush Doctrine' (disgusted)

when did anybody ever believe such a pile of bull?

Bush will always be remembered as the hologram president, a phony leader, and the world can consider itself lucky that it survived him.

[Erika]

2. Don't talk too soon

Little cowboy W still has his thumb on the nuclear trigger.

[don954]

6. When i met him as governor of Texas, he was just starting to talk

about running for prez. When i shook his hand, i got the image of a nuke. I hope it doesnt come true...


BTW, its true what they say, limp handshake!

[cliss]

8. Wow, scary scary thought.

I had a similar image of him, the first time I saw him on TV. This was during the contested election in 2000. Believe it or not, I had never seen him, or heard of him until them.

I looked closely as he sat there, talking. I though, "OH CRAP" "What if he wins?"

[lyonn]

3. Gawd I love it when they show the cover of Times!

It is too perfect. Their article sounds dead on too, hope our Dem hopefuls in the coming election are paying attention, so many in media are sending loud messages?!

[Rageneau]

4. What a great cover! All hat and no cattle!

[grasswire]

5. bogus crap

"By training and temperament, Rice is a foreign-policy realist, less inclined to the moralizing approach of the neoconservatives who dominated Bush's cabinet in the first term. Her push for pragmatism has rubbed off on hawks like Vice President Dick Cheney, the primary intellectual force behind Bush's post-9/11 policies."

Sure it has. Sure.

[Demeter]

7. Nah. They Just Upped Bush's Meds: Bigger Tranquilizers!