Mideast skepticism lingers as Bush ends tour of region

[Olney Blue]

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2008-01-16-bush-analysis_N.htm

Mideast skepticism lingers as Bush ends tour of region
By Richard Wolf, USA TODAY

SHARM EL-SHEIK, Egypt — President Bush concluded eight days of fast-paced Middle East diplomacy Wednesday with a vow to return and "stay engaged." Judging from much of the reaction to his trip, he'll have to.

The president's tour of Israel and the West Bank, Kuwait, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Egypt shined a light on long-standing differences in one of the world's most volatile areas.

Bush sought to advance Israeli-Palestinian peace talks by shuttling along the checkpoint-studded roads between Jerusalem and Ramallah. Even as he praised both sides for being willing to compromise, 11 members of the right-wing Yisrael Beitenu Party withdrew from the Israeli government to protest Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's handling of the peace negotiations, and Arab newspapers denounced Bush for refusing to push Israel on Jewish settlements.

The president sought to unite the region against Iran by stressing that U.S. policy on Tehran had not changed despite a U.S. intelligence report that said Iran's nuclear program was shelved in 2003. Israel disputed the intelligence report and refused to rule out military action, while Saudi Arabia said it has no problems with Iran.



More about the magical mystery tour at link.....

[TahitiNut]

1. Dip-lomatin' is hard work.

Fucking psychopath! :grr:

[ladjf]

2. Why isn't Bush in jail?

[sam sarrha]

3. i was really sure he'd come back from this on in a box or a little bag..i figured they'd martyr him

so they could nuke iran..