Bush lays waste to chance for peace

George W. Bush, in his address to the Israeli Knesset, has removed any veneer he had left to invoke diplomacy when confronting American adversaries around the globe.

He has confirmed the policy of his administration that ideological rigidity trumps negotiation, that confrontation is preferable to compromise and that military might is always right.

In his delivery to the Israeli Congress, he laid bare his understanding and disdain of international treaties.

With his formidable armed forces as backup, he has virtually dismissed or violated every pact this country has made with foreign entities, laying waste any constructive dialogue that could bring the world to a better understanding.

He has basically laid waste every treaty this country has made that averted human calamities and catastrophic losses. For him, there is no debate, no parley and absolutely no discussion.

With this speech, he defined his invasion of Iraq, knowing that he could have averted war if he chose another path.

With this speech, without the reservations now of a majority of Americans, he would be invading Iran.

With this speech, he placed bookends of his legacy in his memorial library -- on one end, the war in Iraq, and on the other, no peace at any cost.

James D. Cook

Streamwood