Talboito.com

From watching President Bush’s interview with Irish television two observations become apparent:

1. Bush truly is incoherent
2. His incoherence runs past mere mispeaking, he is either dissembling or ignorant

At one point Bush runs down a list of democracies in the Middle East. Even given the paucity of countries in that region that fit the description “democracy” or ” in the Middle East”, Bush’s answer is disheartening.

He gives as examples of Middle Eastern democracy:

1. Turkey
2. an emerging effort in Afghanistan
3. and Pakistan

Pakistan and Afghanistan are also no way in the Middle East. Either President Bush deliberately misinterpreted transposed “Middle East” into “Muslim”, a distinction important to all concerned, or he is as fantastically ignorant as has been alleged.

As to the democracy question, I’m willing to admit that Afghanistan is moving toward democracy despite the continued prevalence of war and drug lords inhabiting that country. About Pakistan’s democracy, the Commenwealth of former British States had this to say in a BBC Q&A:

How serious about democratic reforms is President Musharraf?

Opinion is divided. Despite the Commonwealth move, recent reports have suggested the president may be trying to find a way of backing out of his promise to step down as head of the army.

There was also widespread unease in 2002, when he pushed through a series of constitutional amendments increasing the powers of the president.

A controversial referendum in the same year extending his term in office also drew heavy flak.

To tally: 1 democracy plus 2 half-democracies yields 2 out of 3 on the democracry question and a woeful 1 for 3 on geography.

Not great marks. Not a great President.

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