What's wrong with the Bush "Peace Plan."

Tell a Vision - When is a state not a state? When it's Palestinian. By William Saletan Why is Bush's plan so vague? Because it was conceived as a pretty picture, not as a solution. From the moment last fall when he first spoke of "a day when two states, Israel and Palestine, live peacefully together," Bush and his aides have described this idea as a "vision." The word, which Bush repeated twice in his speech today, is significant. A vision is something you imagine, not something you do. In this case, it's something Bush wants Palestinians to imagine"a political process on the horizon" to encourage them to build "the institutions necessary for peace," as he put it on June 10. On June 13, Powell affirmed that the United States was trying to "give the Palestinians something to look forward to in the form of a state that will eventually come into being." When asked at that day's White House press briefing what Bush meant by "Palestine," Fleischer replied, "The President thinks it is very important to send signals to the Palestinian people that they are worthy and deserving of a state."

That's what the offer of a "state" with no defined borders, powers, or timetable (and no right to be represented by its present leadership) is. It isn't even a bone thrown to the Palestinians. It's a picture of a bone. Bush's father was notorious for confusing the photo op of a thing ("Message: I care") with the thing itself. The son, too, seems to think that his words are equal to deeds. A month ago, when he was asked about progress in the Middle East, he noted with pride, "I gave a speech right here in the Rose Garden on April the 4th that said parties have responsibilities. "I've talked about a vision of two states." Congratulations, Mr. President. You've done it again.

In addition, the Bush plan exemplifies the imperial arrogance of this administration. We will allow the creation of a trial state, with borders upon which we decide. We will mandate elections, which will be allowed to choose any leader of our choosing. We will then decide whether the Palestinians are deserving of a permanent state.

I think that Arafat is a vicious bastard, who supports terrorism abroad and corruption at home. I believe that Israel has a right to exist, in safety and security. But I don't believe that the United States has the right to dictate terms at all times, to all other people.

We are in the last days of the Roman Republic-- when the forms still existed, but the law was used at home as the battleground among vicious oligarchs, and the empire existed for the aggrandizement and enrichment of an arrogant few in Rome.