Bush On Cold War And Putin

President Bush is rockin' 'em in Europe, starting by admitting the U.S. had a hand in the dark decades that fell upon Eastern Europe as a result of FDR's Yalta strategy. He called the result "one of the greatest wrongs in history" and promised:

"We will not repeat the mistakes of other generations, appeasing or excusing tyranny, and sacrificing freedom in the vain pursuit of stability. We have learned our lesson; no one's liberty is expendable. In the long run, our security and true stability depend on the freedom of others."

To Yeltsin, the president said:

"No good purpose is served by stirring up fears and exploiting old rivalries in this region. The interests of Russia and all nations are served by the growth of freedom that leads to prosperity and peace."

(h/t for the above: AP)

Bush and his team have brilliantly turned the focus in Europe from Iraq to freedom, and his Eurpean trip is no doubt being dreaded by the world's despots and their financial and political supporters.

On the eve of the trip, the British press leaked a memo from British intelligence stating quite straightforwardly that Bush had decided to take out Iraq well before admitting it publicly, and was pushing for intelligence to back up his decision.

So what? The world agreed that Hussein was a threat and there was an assumption that intelligence would be found, and WSM would follow. No one had other theories in that regard. The latest flap is merely Bush saying, "Hurry it up with that evidence." No one has said they stood up to him and said, "Sir, there will be no evidence." They all thought there were MSM as well.

And as it turns out, MSM is a small player in the grander scheme, which is a good Bizzaro Planet variation on Yalta: Give no dictator a free hand in the name of stability.