Thanks mainly to the actions of aggressively partisan Republicans, there is growing international anxiety about the US electoral system. Many US citizens living abroad complain that they are being denied their right to vote in the presidential election as the result of more complex registration systems. More worrying are the abuses in Florida and Ohio. In Florida, Governor Jeb Bush's men are striking people off the voting rolls on the grounds that they are felons, without always checking the facts. A disproportionate number of black and Hispanic Democrats are being disenfranchised. In Ohio, the Republicans are making it almost impossible for new voters to register. If George W Bush is re-elected, we are in for a rough ride. Domestically there will be doubts over his legal standing, thanks to some of these election abuses, and to the manipulation of information in the run-up to the Iraq war. It is possible that Bush might even suffer the fate of Richard Nixon in his second term with many pigeons coming home to roost. Internationally, Europe and the US will drift further apart and even moderates in the Islamic world will see Bush's re-election as confirmation of western hostility to their faith. Given how Bush's administration practises double standards in the middle east, always favouring Israel against the Thanks mainly to the actions of? aggressively partisan Republicans, there is growing international anxiety about the US electoral system. Many US citizens living abroad complain that they are being denied their right to vote in the presidential election as the result of more complex registration systems. More worrying are the abuses in Florida and Ohio. In Florida, Governor Jeb Bush's men are striking people off the voting rolls on the grounds that they are felons, without always checking the facts. A disproportionate number of black and Hispanic Democrats are being disenfranchised. In Ohio, the Republicans are making it almost impossible for new voters to register.?
If George W Bush is re-elected, we are in for a rough ride. Domestically there will be doubts over his legal standing, thanks to some of these election abuses, and to the manipulation of information in the run-up to the Iraq war. It is possible that Bush might even suffer the fate of Richard Nixon in his second term with many pigeons coming home to roost.?
Internationally, Europe and the US will drift further apart and even moderates in the Islamic world will see Bush's re-election as confirmation of western hostility to their faith. Given how Bush's administration practises double standards in the middle east, always favouring Israel against the Arabs, it is hard not to have some sympathy for that view. Yet the Republican coalition depends on the votes of uncritical Israel supporters, in particular millions of Christian fundamentalists for whom Israel has a vital role in the second coming of Christ.
Bush double-crossed Tony Blair, and the world at large, when he promised to follow the roadmap for peace between Israel and Palestine, as a quid pro quo for Blair's support for the war against Iraq. Bush has since ignored the roadmap and returned to his pre-9/11 policy of doing nothing.
Recently there was a glimmer of hope when Sharon said he would clear out the Israeli settlements in Gaza and return at least that territory to the Palestinians. Sadly, his own party blocked him. He should have called a general election at that time, which would have backed his Gaza initiative. Unfortunately, he gave in to the extremists. That was the opportunity for Bush to support Sharon?against his party, but he took no action.
America is detached, letting Israel follow its own self-destructive policies. Such is the consequence of a weak president. For electoral reasons the US has failed itself and the cause of peace.
Europe has now distanced itself from any positive action in the middle east and looks weak too. But at the very least the EU should consider imposing economic sanctions against Israeli aggression, which is one of the causes of terrorism today.Arabs, it is hard not to have some sympathy for that view. Yet the Republican coalition depends on the votes of uncritical Israel supporters, in particular millions of Christian fundamentalists for whom Israel has a vital role in the second coming of Christ. Bush double-crossed Tony Blair, and the world at large, when he promised to follow the roadmap for peace between Israel and Palestine, as a quid pro quo for Blair's support for the war against Iraq. Bush has since ignored the roadmap and returned to his pre-9/11 policy of doing nothing. Recently there was a glimmer of hope when Sharon said he would clear out the Israeli settlements in Gaza and return at least that territory to the Palestinians. Sadly, his own party blocked him. He should have called a general election at that time, which would have backed his Gaza initiative. Unfortunately, he gave in to the extremists. That was the opportunity for Bush to support Sharon against his party, but he took no action. America is detached, letting Israel follow its own self-destructive policies. Such is the consequence of a weak president. For electoral reasons the US has failed itself and the cause of peace. Europe has now distanced itself from any positive action in the middle east and looks weak too. But at the very least the EU should consider imposing economic sanctions against Israeli aggression, which is one of the causes of terrorism today.
