The attacks of September 11, 2001 have come to define the presidency of George Bush. Wittingly or not, the president who ran in 2000 on a platform of a "humble foreign policy" found himself entangled in the most interventionist foreign policy in US history, with the Middle East being its central focus.
Richard Clarke, the former White House anti-terrorism czar told the world earlier this year, Bush was obsessed with Iraq and demanded that planning for its invasion parallel that for invading Afghanistan. Fifteen months later, US forces invaded and occupied Iraq where they are today caught in a quagmire with no end in sight.
Without actual UN approval, Bush's justification for the war was Iraq's alleged stockpiles of WMDs and ties to Al Qaida, allegations that have since been proven wrong. As the case for WMDs and ties to Al Qaida withered away, Bush shifted the focus to the need to remove "the despotic Saddam" and liberate Iraqis.
Today, with the war going badly, Bush showcases Iraq before the American electorate as proof of his resolve to make them safer and "take the fight to the terrorists before they come to our shores."
On the Arab Israeli conflict, Bush was determined since the day he assumed office on January 20, 2001 not to be as involved as his predecessor had been.
Still, with the Palestinian Israeli war entering its fifth month, Bush felt compelled to "get involved", especially, after Sharon, with whom Bush had developed kinship, was elected prime minister in Israel.
Thus was born the Mitchell plan, the Tenet plan and a whole host of other initiatives. But as Bush was getting closer to Sharon, calling the old "warrior" a man of peace, and getting convinced that "Arafat is no partner for peace", Bush bought into the roadmap, becoming the first American president to call for the creation of a Palestinian state.
Bush also did what no other US president has done since UN Resolution 242 was adopted. In April this year, Bush endorsed Sharon's plan for withdrawal from Gaza, recognised Israeli settlements in the West Bank as "realities on the ground," and nullified the right of return for Palestinian refugees, suggesting instead they could return to the hypothetical Palestinian State.
Bush also maintains strongly stated positions on Syria, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and the Democratic reformation of the Middle East.
Bush is so far best remembered for launching The Middle East Partnership Initiative, to "support economic, political, and educational reforms efforts in the Middle East." The Bush Administration has also concluded free-trade agreements with Jordan, Morocco and Bahrain.
The writer is an Arab journalist based in Washington
