What Foreign Policy Successes?

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The Wall Street Journal has a piece today ($$$) headlined “Mideast Violence Darkens Bush’s Policy Successes.” It opens thus: “The surge in Mideast violence means conditions are deteriorating in the very places — Israel, Palestinian territories, Lebanon and Afghanistan — that President Bush had been able to point to as bright spots for his policies.”

Well, this is puzzling. As best I can tell, the Bush administration has not had any discernible policy in relation to Israel and the Palestinian territories, beyond willful neglect and an indulgence of pretty much any policy Israel has wanted to pursue. (And the election of a Hamas government counts as a bright spot?) The best known politician in Lebanon was blown up, which led to massive anti-Syria protests and then even more massive pro-Syria protests courtesy of Hizbollah, the strongest political force in the country, whose power seems undiminished. Syrian troops withdrew, yes, but that wasn’t the Bush administration’s doing. Afghanistan…is in an advanced stage of total meltdown. If these are foreign policy successes, what would failure look like!? Don’t answer that.

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BEFORE YOU CLICK AWAY!

“Lying.” “Disgusting.” “Scum.” “Slime.” “Corrupt.” “Enemy of the people.” Donald Trump has always made clear what he thinks of journalists. And it’s plain now that his administration intends to do everything it can to stop journalists from reporting things they don’t like—which is most things that are true.

No one gets to tell Mother Jones what to publish or not publish, because no one owns our fiercely independent newsroom. But that also means we need to directly raise the resources it takes to keep our journalism alive. There’s only one way for that to happen, and it’s readers like you stepping up. Please help with a donation today if you can—even a few bucks will make a real difference. A monthly gift would be incredible.

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