"They've dicked with the wrong dictator!"

I submit the following story, which is really more of an editorial than a news story, because of it's importance as a news item in itself. The author, Max Boot (a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations), provides an overview of recent events in the middle east as he sees them. Mr. Boot argues that Israel has been overly restrained with it's neighbors, and ask for the president to intervene by allowing Israel to attack Syria (because it is in a weak enough position militarily to easily attack), and perhaps Iran (the real trouble maker, according to the author.)

It would appear that Mr. Boot cannot or will not imagine any other solution in the region that does not involve war. I would argue that the column is simplistic, one-sided and childish. It has been said that when you are holding a hammer, everything looks like a nail. Max Boot is clearly holding a hammer. On the other hand, hawkish columnists and pundits have been around as long as paper and ink, so Mr. Boot's venomous diatribe is not really out of the norm everyday news stories. The real reason that this story has become so important is that the White House has chosen to make this story an official talking point in a press release. Stating that the author agrees with President Bush's foreign agenda, the White House say, "Conservatives Stand Behind The President's Policies."

Without having said in an overt, definitive fashion that they desire to attack Syria and Iran, the White House has still made clear in this official document that their foreign policy is aligned with and agrees with that of Mr. Boot. The White House has now officially sanctioned war with Syria and Iran.


Life eerily imitates art as President Bush channels the spirit of
President Benson (Lloyd Bridges) in the film "Hot Shots: Part Deux"

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Quote from the White House Press release, touting a column by Max Boot as an official presidential talking point:

[...] "Conservatives Stand Behind The President's Policies"
"On Wednesday, Max Boot Wrote: "Our Best Response Is Exactly What Bush Has Done So Far – Reject Premature Calls For A Cease-Fire And Let Israel Finish The Job.' (Max Boot, 'It's Time To Let The Israelis Take Off The Gloves,' Los Angeles Times, 7/19/06)"
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/07/20060721-5.html

Let Israel take off the gloves
By Max Boot - Special to the Los Angeles Times
Thursday, July 20, 2006

This all-day sucker is down to the soggy white stick.