Stupid is as Stupid Does

There is a long-standing political infatuation of "doing something" to try to address a problem, particularly if it can be done in a visible and demonstrative way.

The media reports favorably, and many in the public feel reassured, with such efforts - even when what is done is often unhelpful or even harmful. Or stupid.

The Wall Street Journal highlights this attitude perfectly in discussing Obama's approach to Israel:

"On the foreign-relations front, Mr. Obama made good on his campaign pledge to engage on the Arab-Israeli dispute from 'day one,' breaking from his predecessor, who waited until late in his second term before jumping fully into the conflict."

This is the received wisdom of the liberal media, that Bush had no policy toward the Palestinian-Israeli conflict for many years. But it simply isn't true. Bush's policy was to marginalize Yasser Arafat, the terrorist leader of the Palestinians.

It was a purposeful and thoughtful policy, designed to force a change in Palestinian leadership and/or policy - recognizing that there can be no viable long-term settlement between Israel and the Palestinians if the Palestinians are ruled by terrorists who seek Israel's destruction. It was a policy that comported with our ideals and interests.

But it was not a policy of summits, multiple meetings, photo ops, and the like - which was the failed policy of Bill Clinton.

Instead, Bush's policy worked. Arafat's party, Fatah, has greatly moderated its posture under new leadership. While that isn't a complete solution, the conflict is not amenable to simple or short- term remedies. It will take years for the Palestinians to have their desire to destroy Israel thwarted before they give up that goal and settle for peaceful coexistence.