The Bush Dinner & Problem Solving
Of course they didn’t shake hands. Politics outside the U.S. are
not entirely different from inside the U.S. When things are not
going well, blame the other guy. Early on, Musharraf assisted
the United States, probably not received well by everyone in his
country. Probably a risk to his own safety. Not like the coup
that put him in power doesn’t come with its own risks.
Karzai agreed to take the job in Afghanistan with assurances
that U.S. and other international support would aid his efforts to
rebuild his country and provide reasons for countrymen to
accept more conventional means for economic development.
The prolonged struggle for success in Iraq has put a strain on
any related strategies in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Even our most
staunch supporter, Britain’s Prime Minister, Tony Blair has seen
his popularity wane as a consequence largely due to Iraq and the
war on terror.
Musharraf, Karzai Avoid Eye Contact,
Hand Shake During Bush Dinner
Thursday , September 28, 2006
AP
WASHINGTON — In a Rose Garden appearance arranged to show warmth and unity, the bickering leaders of Pakistan and Afghanistan shook hands with President Bush but not with each other.
Pakistani President Gen. Pervez Musharraf and Afghan President Hamid Karzai, whom Bush considers key bulwarks against Islamic radicalism in a volatile region, barely looked at one another as Bush appealed for cooperation against the common enemy of terrorism.
This is not a criticsm of the war on terror or the situation is Iraq.
Taken a step further, it seems little is being accomplished on any
level. With reports that vary on the relative strength of economy
and business in this country and a Congress that has been called
the least effective in a long time, little is getting done.
It also seems that the only answer given for curing failed policies
on all levels is to throw more money at it. Listening to Congress
on Cspan yesterday, more money was requested for AIDS and
financial aid for college tuition. More bickering was present for
parliamentary procedures and Congressional rules. Bickering and
asking for more money.
We spend 16% of gdp on healthcare or 1.9 trillion dollars. We
spend a half trillion dollars on education. Yet both are guilty of
poor performance at a ridiculous price.
Politicians beholding to lobbyists who represent special interest
and two main political parties who support and embrace practice
of this distorted process must change. An apathetic or complicit
public must take the responsibility to reform the process or it is
likely things will not change and only get worse. We are all
responsible for the direction and outcomes in this country. Like the
public officials we criticize, we must take a look at our own choices
and decide what is really best and not just what is in our own best
interests.