To get a sense of whether Bush is likely to get along with another world leader, picture that foreign official having a beer with Bush at the frat house. Sounds silly, perhaps, but consider Bush’s relationship with Tony Blair. Bill Clinton seemed to be Blair’s soul mate because they were similar in age, experience, and world view. Bush could not be more different from Clinton and yet he enjoys nearly as good a relationship with Blair. How can this be explained? In part, because you can see Bush and Blair hoisting a pint together at the frat house.
Another example is Russian President Vladimir Putin. Here’s a former KGB official of the ”Evil Empire” and yet Bush seems to get along famously with the old Commie. Why? You can picture him downing shots of vodka with George.
Now relate this fraternity factor to the Middle East. Can you picture Bush having a drink with any of the Arab leaders? Forget the fact that as Muslims they’re not supposed to drink alcohol (and that Bush no longer drinks). Perhaps the only one is King Abdullah of Jordan and, not coincidentally, Bush gets along very well with the young monarch. On the other hand, can you imagine Bush having drinks with Yasir Arafat? Not likely.
What about Ariel Sharon? Well, it might be hard to picture him as a drinking buddy, but despite his gruff public image, the private Sharon is well-liked even by his political opponents. In fact, Sharon and Bush had a bonding experience when Bush made his only visit to Israel prior to running for president and was given a helicopter tour of the West Bank by none other than Sharon. At the time, neither imagined they would one day meet again as leaders of their respective nations, but they got along well from that first encounter.
Faith
Most U.S. presidents have felt a certain kinship with the Jewish people because of their own Christian beliefs and values. Many cite their reading of the Bible for their feelings toward Israel. Addressing a Jewish audience Lyndon Johnson said, for example, ”Most if not all of you have very deep ties with the land and with the people of Israel, as I do, for my Christian faith sprang from yours….the Bible stories are woven into my childhood memories as the gallant struggle of modern Jews to be free of persecution is also woven into our souls.”
President Bush is a man of great faith, who has made no secret of his belief in the power of prayer and his commitment to Christian values. Recognizing the centrality of religion in President Bush’s life is critical to understanding his world view and policy making.
While Bush’s faith is most often referenced with regard to domestic issues such as abortion, it is especially relevant to his attitude toward Israel. As the birthplace of Christianity and the site of so many Christian shrines, the Holy Land is of particular interest to the president.
The fact that Israel is a Jewish state is also important because it is not just another political entity. It is a nation based on faith. Unlike the Islamic states, which are also based on religion, however, Israel also shares Judeo-Christian and Western values with the United States. Bush is, therefore, naturally drawn to sympathize with Israel.
In an address to the National Commemoration of the Days of Remembrance on April 19, 2001, Bush observed: ”Through centuries of struggle, Jews across the world have been witnesses not only against the crimes of men, but for faith in G-d, and G-d alone. Theirs is a story of defiance in oppression and patience in tribulation, reaching back to the exodus and their exile into the diaspora. That story continued in the founding of the State of Israel. The story continues in the defense of the State of Israel.”
