A son doesn't want to make his father's mistakes. And, if you've read my book, you know that I believe George Bush Sr. may have made a big mistake in his dealings with Israel. In fact, I suspect Bush Sr.'s mistake concerning Israel may have even cost him his bid for re-election and led to the presidency of Bill Clinton. On page 67 of Recommendation 666 we read:

What first caught my attention was the way President George Bush, Sr., treated Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir when he visited Washington early in 1992. Bush refused to meet with the man. Imagine how Shamir must have felt. He was being snubbed by the most powerful man in the world. Bush was the one person able to pull the bickering nations of the world together to liberate Kuwait. His popularity was so high from the Gulf War victory that none of the major names in the Democratic Party dared to risk challenging him in the coming election. And now he was publicly snubbing the Prime Minister of Israel. Why?

The conclusion that I came to in my book was Shamir's "Greater Israel" policies -- establishing Jewish settlements in the land captured in the Six Day War -- were standing in the way of then Secretary of State James Baker's peace negotiations with the moderate Arab states in the wake of the 1991 Madrid Conference. In other words, Bush Sr. wanted a change of administration in Israel in order to achieve his foreign policy agenda for the region. And, his presidential snub of Shamir when he visited Washington in 1992 was seen by many as helping bring that change about. In a tight election Shamir lost to Yitzhak Rabin and, shortly after, Israel began down that slippery road of trading land for peace -- falling in line with the Baker strategy. 

But, like I said, a son doesn't want to make his father's mistakes. Perhaps that explains why George Bush Jr. set a different course than that of his father. Instead of reaching out to touch Israel -- as did his father -- Bush Jr. pretty much kept his hands to himself. And I can't help but wonder if it had something to do with his bit more biblical world view. And, stepping away from the policies of his father, Bush Jr. surrounded himself with like thinkers. Yet, as a son soon discoverers, he doesn't have to make his father's mistakes -- he will make enough of his own. 

This is what I think: With the departure of Donald Rumsfeld Read about it here the Bush Administration has decided to set a completely different course in the Middle East Read about it here -- one that squares more closely to that of his father. Already James Baker is back on the diplomatic scene and, with the appointment of Robert Gates to replace Rusmfeld Read about it here, I suspect it's going to be the good old days for those who want to return to the hands-on approach to Israel. Israel will be made to make peace.

If so, if that's what Bush Jr. has decided to do, he's making a big mistake. Instead of making America more secure, he's doing just the opposite.

He's opening the gates.