Conason: The madness of George

[CatWoman]

Dec. 1, 2006 | If war is diplomacy by other means, then perhaps diplomacy is the way to conclude an unsuccessful war. Yet the Bush White House -- which seems poised to reject the anticipated recommendations of the Iraq Study Group chaired by James Baker III and Lee Hamilton -- evidently prefers the endless continuation of a ruinous military conflict to any conceivable resolution that requires negotiation and compromise. The ideological aversion to the normal processes of international relations was a principal cause of the debacle in Iraq, and that same aversion may now preclude any alternative to the ongoing carnage.

To describe this behavior as irrational is to be excessively polite

According to every leak and rumor, the Iraq Study Group is expected to urge President Bush to directly "engage" with Syria and Iran as part of a broader strategy to curtail the chaotic communal violence that is slaughtering so many Iraqis every day. Although the president has not denounced that idea publicly, he and Vice President Cheney are widely expected to ignore any such advice. Sitting down with hostile regimes to settle differences is not consistent with their philosophy of power, in which America speaks and others listen.

The craziness of this neoconservative arrogance may be obvious, but it is emphasized by the context of the Iraqi crisis. Meeting with Nouri al-Maliki in Jordan this week, Bush declared his full and unconditional support for the Iraqi prime minister's government. The president not only endorsed Maliki as "the right guy" to run Iraq but also promised to keep sending money and troops to prop him up until he can stand on his own, whenever that might be.

http://salon.com/opinion/conason/2006/12/01/baker_iraq/