It is no exaggeration to note that the American public is doubtful about President Bush's accomplishments. Disapproval ratings in some polls are above 70 percent. http://www.pollingreport.com/BushJob.htm
He is talking about the brighter spots in his eight years. We should expect no less from a man who worked his way to the top. Modesty is rare among politicians..
He has described the dismal scenes in the Middle East early in his administration, and the improvements since then. http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2008/12/20081205-8.html
*The end of Saddam Hussein, cruel to his own people and the initiator of two wars.
*The beginning of American troop withdrawals. "Iraq has gone from an enemy of America to a friend of America, from sponsoring terror to fighting terror, and from a brutal dictatorship to a multi-religious, multi-ethnic constitutional democracy."
*An agreement with Libya to end that country's developing weapons of mass destruction.
*Increases in freedom, dignity, and hope in several countries of the Middle East, including greater rights for women.
*The end of Syrian dominance of Lebanon. ". . . for the first time in three decades, the people of Lebanon are free from Syrian military occupation."
*Rejection of terror, and a recognition of Israel's right to exist by the Palestinian leadership, along with the beginning of fruitful negotiations between Israel and Palestine."There is now greater international consensus that at any point in modern memory. Israelis, Palestinians, and Arabs recognize the creation of a peaceful, democratic Palestinian state is in their interests. And through the Annapolis process, they started down a path that will end with two states living side by side in peace."
The president acknowledges that not all is rosy. Iran continues to advance its nuclear option. The United States and its allies have imposed sanctions, that so far have not achieved their goal. "We have made our bottom line clear: For the safety of our people and the peace of the world, America will not allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon. "
One is tempted to let the president retire with polite applause. It is his due, and he shall receive it from me after some modest comments about his claims.
*The appearance of a multi-ethnic democracy in Iraq may only be the product of America's forceful babysitting. Car bombs and other abominations occur frequently. President-elect Obama says that he can withdraw combat troops, but not right away, and he expects to leave support troops indefinitely. We should remember what support troops produced from the early days of Vietnam. It is too early to conclude that conditions in Iraq and for its neighbors are better or worse than before the American invasion. Saddam was a cruel dictator, but restrained by sanctions. The invasion and the American-protected regime have escalated Islamic extremism, directed against America and its allies.
*It is always a puzzle to figure out who is ruling Lebanon. Currently it looks like Hizbollah is close to the driver's seat. Political and military leaders, Christian as well as Muslim, are making obsequious pilgrimages to Damascus.
*Palestinians complain about the lack of movement in talks with Israel. When Ehud Olmert claims real progress, few Israelis believe him. None of the contenders in the run up to the Israeli elections are emphasizing how they would deal with the Palestinians. If the issue is not dead, it is not a burning item on the agenda.
*An explanation for Israel's lack of enthusiasm for Palestine is an issue that George W. Bush did not emphasize in his remarks: Gaza. His administration pushed the Palestinians to the election that put Hamas in power, and has resulted in Gaza becoming one of the darker spots in the Middle East. The regime ascribes to Islamic fundamentalism. An Israeli invasion in response to continued rocket attacks seems inevitable, sooner or later. Meanwhile, a blockade is keeping the people of Gaza on short rations. Israelis wonder if they can make peace with the Palestinians of the West Bank while Gaza remains as it is.
The president did not mention Afghanistan in this presentation. Outside of the Middle East? Not according to conventional definitions. An attack against Afghanistan in response to 9-11 was more justified than the attack against Iraq, and it worked initially to crush the Taliban. Now American planners are talking about concentrating defenses around the capital of Kabul. That is not a good sign.
It is time for polite applause. The Middle East might have been worse without President Bush's eight years.
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Ira Sharkansky (Emeritus)
Department of Political Science
Hebrew University of Jerusalem
Home tel: 972-2-532-2725
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msira@mscc.huji.ac.il