Opinion: In today’s pages: Bush is insane. No, really.
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Columnist Rosa Brooks has figured out why the Bush administration seems eager to start a new war:
Forget impeachment. Liberals, put it behind you. George W. Bush and Dick Cheney shouldn’t be treated like criminals who deserve punishment. They should be treated like psychotics who need treatment. Because they’ve clearly gone mad. Exhibit A: We’re in the middle of a disastrous war in Iraq, the military and political situation in Afghanistan is steadily worsening, and the administration’s interrogation and detention tactics have inflamed anti-Americanism and fueled extremist movements around the globe. Sane people, confronting such a situation, do their best to tamp down tensions, rebuild shattered alliances, find common ground with hostile parties and give our military a little breathing space. But crazy people? They look around and decide it’s a great time to start another war.
Contributing editor Timothy Garton Ash praises European multi-party democracy. Blogger Garin K. Hovannisian says the timing may actually be right for the Armenian genocide resolution. Columnist Patt Morrison is sure people don’t go to fast food joints to eat healthy, so companies shouldn’t mind posting nutritional charts.
The editorial board thinks the Senate’s cap and trade plan to address global warming is second rate. It’s also not wild about Countrywide’s attempt to ease sub-prime loan pains. And finally the board explores why the Michael Mukasey confirmation process is growing more rancorous.
Readers react to the specter of another war on the horizon. L.A.’s Anthony Shay says, ‘If I were an Iranian official, I can think of no greater spur to developing nuclear weapons as quickly as possible than having the world’s greatest war-mongering power threaten me....’