When A President Starts Believing His Wishes, The People Are In Deep Trouble

One has to wonder what the president has for breakfast on days that he is going to let the press ask him questions. Obviously, he thinks that our brand of "democracy" is the cure all for the ails of the globe.

Skeptically, much of the globe's people find W operating with marginal integrity, questionable ethics, and bestows upon him the trustworthiness they would have given a snake oil salesman. And they are justified in doing so, if you ask me.

Because a President wishes something to be true doesn't make it so. A wish for democracy may be admirable. However, democracy is a system of governance, not a tool of diplomacy.

Have a look at this unscripted moment where you can see that the President is heavily invested in misleading even himself.

The Prime Minister has spoken to me, and I have spoken to him about our desire to help suffering Palestinians. Nobody likes suffering on their border, nobody likes to see suffering in the world. So we'll talk about that. We'll also talk about the broader war against extremists and radicals.

It's interesting that extremists attack democracies around the Middle East, whether it be the Iraq democracy, the Lebanese democracy, or a potential Palestinian democracy. And what that should say clearly to people all around the world is that we are involved with an ideological conflict that is a monumental conflict. And those of us that believe in liberty and human rights and human decency need to be bound together in common cause to fight off these extremists, and to defeat them.

You can only defeat them so much militarily. We have to also defeat them with a better idea. It's a better idea that's being practiced by our friend, Israel. It's called democracy. And that's the fundamental challenge facing this century: Will we have the courage and the resolve necessary to help democracy defeat this ideology. And I will tell the Prime Minister, once again, I'm deeply committed to this cause, whether it be in Iraq, or Lebanon, or the Palestinian Territory, or anywhere else in the Middle East, and around the world.

Sure, democracy is one of the elements that makes our society great. But there are many other factors that made us ripe for such a system of governance. Simply because it is the best system for us, doesn't mean it will work to improve the geopolitical climate in the Middle East. Certainly, Iraq seemed a lot more peaceful before we inflicted our brand of democracy upon it.

Even so, Tony the Snow job went to bat one more time to defend his Emperor's new clothes in grand hyperbole fashion. Have a look:

Q How do you respond to critics who say that the United States should have done a lot more for Abbas a lot sooner? And do you think the administration feels any responsibility at all for the split, Palestinian split?

MR. SNOW: I think what you really need to be thinking about is the President of the United States did not bind people's hands behind their back and throw them from rooftops. The President of the United States did not mascarade around with masks pulled over the face and slay people who disagreed with Hamas.

It's important to realize the terrorists represent a force of radicalism and extremism that continually tries to bring down democracies. And the President certainly has made note of that. What we have tried to do constantly is to provide real support for those who have democratic aspirations and are moving in the direction of democracy. And we will continue to do that.

The one thing that is clear in conversations both with the Prime Minister of Israel and also with the President of the Palestinian Authority is that they understand not only the dedication and commitment of this President, but also the importance of bringing in people throughout the region. It is not as if the United States is the hegemon. What we are trying to do both in Iraq and also within the Middle East is to figure out ways to empower those who are pursuing democracy. And we certainly have come to their aid when we can and when is necessary. You saw very swift action in terms of supporting President Abbas in just the last couple of days. The Secretary of State laid that out yesterday.

It occurs to me that the major difference between us and them is that democracy emerged from within our borders. I don't think we will have much success inflicting democracy upon a people who don't want it. Moreover, it's people that make change happen, not ideologies or systems of government.

Really, Tony has a point:

MR. SNOW: Well, I don't think you isolate them when you devote -- when you dedicate $40 million to humanitarian aid. Again, I think -- Martha, also you have to ask yourself, here in Gaza -- and you have seen people who pretend to be "liberators and governors" slaughtering people in the streets -- it's probably going to change your view of them. The real point here is that there is an effort on our part, and there are parallel efforts with our allies, to provide humanitarian aid and to try to deal with this crisis.

In the eyes of the people of Iraq, are we seen as "liberators and governors," or viewed as "slaughtering people" in their streets?

Truly, the hearts and minds have been lost as the evidence to mistrust this administration is left in the wake and consequences of the W, Rove and Co's actions. Thus the W, Rove and Co agenda has been speared through the heart with the grave reality of their own making.

The faith-driven over fact-based leadership that has permeated the W, Rove and Co has greatly harmed our Nation. It's time to revert back to the glory days when sweeping geopolitical decisions were based on something other than a president's wish that democracy will defeat a hateful ideology.

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