BUSH WOULD DO BETTER WITH A GOOD DOSE OF DOUBT

President Bush has openly said repeatedly that he makes decisions and is never doubtful that he may have been wrong. Bill Maher refers to this Bush characteristic: "It must feel good to be 'dead certain' about everything. But it's not a virtue, especially when you're always wrong. Bertrand Russell said, 'The trouble with the world is the stupid are cock-sure and the intelligent, full of doubt.' Doubt is good. It suits human nature. Doubt is what makes you careful. Doubt is what makes you open to change. Doubt is why Eddie Murphy took a DNA test."

I just had a house guest for the weekend from Australia but she is living in Washington, D.C. as her husband is stationed in D.C. He is an officer in the Australian Army. As someone who works toward ending the genocide in Darfur, it is particularly interesting to me that he served in Rwanda in 1995, still a time of slaughter in Rwanda. She and I talked about Bush. It is always healthy to learn how others see our President. Admittedly I think Bush has not been a good President for the US. But the fact that how I see President Bush is quite the same as my house guest sees Mr. Bush tells me that his behavior translates clearly to other parts of the world in the same way that he translates in my mind. As I traveled Europe in 2005, I found the same true. And this was the first European trip that I have ever been treated with obvious disdain in Italy. Italy is a part of the USA coalition in Iraq, but the Italian people didn't choose to be a part of the coalition. Just their government did. While in my area at the Naval War College, a Greek military officer also shared with me his views of our President. As he said, he likes the American people, but separates our government's actions from us. He also said that "good sense" is often bypassed in the US military mode of operating.

As a part of the world, the US would be wise to care about the way we are viewed by other nation's and their people. We don't have to let it dictate our every governmental foreign policy but it would help us maneuver through our foreign relations. As is true in Iraq, the solution is not so much going to be achieved militarily, but through diplomacy in the world of governments and politics. And during the Bush administration days, diplomacy has been a foreign language that we can't speak.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vDmURpie_E
New Rules by Bill Maher September 7, 2007

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eFHEiYwiNc
Bill Maher's opening September 7, 2007
Bush called Australia Austria while he was at APEC summit in Australia. Bush also called APEC - OPEC on the same trip.


President George W. Bush joins fellow APEC leaders for the official portrait Saturday, Sept. 8, 2007, in front of the Sydney Opera House. White House photo by Chris Greenberg.
Everyone has their right hand up to wave, except for George Bush. Maybe, he didn't hear the photographer's instruction to have everyone wave their right hand for the picture.
President George W. Bush, left center, joins fellow leaders during the APEC Leaders Retreat Saturday, Sept. 8, 2007, in Sydney, Australia. White House photo by Eric Draper.

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/09/images/20070908-5_d-0092-2-515h.html
More pictures available from this White House website.
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOWu8T8F5W4
Bill Maher September 7, 2007, Following the opening with Retired Colonel Larry Wilkerson of the U.S. Army discussing Iraq

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvT4adazeOE
Ralph Nader on Bill Maher's Real Time September 7, 2007
includes the issue of Chinese recalls

http://www.smh.com.au/news/apec/bush-leaves-australia-after-apec-summit/2007/09/08/1188783563918.html
article about George Bush in Australia at the APEC summit