Michael Rubin (current editor of the Middle East Quarterly) has a sadly spot on piece about the demise of the "Bush doctrine" at Ha'aretz. (This link, though, is to the Middle East Forum website, which is much less annoying.)
On January 20, 2005, George W. Bush outlined the goal of his second term. "It is the policy of the United States to seek and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture, with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world," he said. "All who live in tyranny and hopelessness can know: the United States will not ignore your oppression, or excuse your oppressors. When you stand for your liberty, we will stand with you."
Less than a year later, the Bush doctrine is dead, the victim not of outside circumstances, but rather lack of will and ineptness. While Bush may be sincere, across the Middle East, his administration's willingness to sacrifice those seeking freedom has become legendary.
For those of us who voted for the doctrine in spite of our misgivings about the man, this has been a betrayal of the first and worst order. Rubin spells it out. Please read it all.
