Bush is good for America

The american citizen should be a very satisfied one. Notwithstanding all the opinion polls, there is no reason for an american to be dissatisfied with his/her President.

The Pre and Post-September handling of america's foreign policy by this President has been quite remarkable. He has gone about protecting america's interests, wherever and whenever threatened, with grit, determination and at times brute force.

The easiest thing to do now, for anyone, would be to criticize and find fault with the Presidents policies. For the un-trained eye, it might seem as if the decisions and actions taken by the administration are hasty and not well thought out. But the reality is to the contrary.

Its a given that any other administration perhaps would have done the same. Meaning, they would have used all of america's powers to protect her supreme national interests. The only difference being the means used to achieve that end.

The manner in which the decisions and policies of the administration are made is typical of the style of the person who heads it. The President has by now convinced everyone that he is a no-nonsense quick action guy who lacks the patience to stand and stare as the water flows.

One of the first acts of the administration in its previous term was to withdraw from the anti-ballistic missile treaty (ABM) with Russia. The logic was simple. The treaty did not serve any purpose any more after the cold war was over. Threat perceptions have changed and so should america's response to that threat. Out went the ABM.

The two wars also underscored the administrations determination to nip any threat in the bud and to spread democracy in the middle-east. A grand strategy, worth the effort for the administration.

There have been innumerable criticisms of the way in which america went about seeking the UN's approval for the war. Bottom-line is, for the administration, diplomatic niceties be damned. There was a gathering threat in west asia and it had to be neutralized even if that meant walking over the UN. Anyways, the two countries in Europe that were opposing it tooth and nail are no angels either.

Rightfully, majority of americans have felt safe with the incumbent and voted him back to power.

In its new avatar, the administration has gone ahead and appointed John Bolton as the US representative to the UN. He was serving in the administration as Under Sec. of State for Arms Control and International Security.

Equally bold was the appointment of Alberto Gonzales as the Attorney General who had earlier circulated a memo in which the administration had claimed that the Geneva conventions did not apply to certain prisoners taken in the wars.

Just a week back, the President announced the nomination of Paul Wolfowitz as the World Bank's President. Maybe Paul is not suited for the job and may be he has to work on his credibility for the Bank President's job but at the end of the day, the administration has their man on the top job.

Well, its insane to argue that he will tow the administrations line. But look at it this way - the World Bank has a President who has the ears of the american President ! Is that not advantageous?

The next would be the UN. Secretary General Kofi Annan's term expires next year. He surely will be replaced. Any guesses whom the President would nominate?

Simply put, the administration is getting america and americans prepared for the 21st Century.

The President is attempting a global re-shuffle.