National Review got drunk off George W. Bush. The hangover has been bad. Sober, the publication's editor offers an appropriately sober assessment of Bush's delusion that Western institutions--democracy, religious tolerance, free speech, etc.--are really universal desires. Everyone may want to be free. Not everyone wants you to be free.

Dan, I read Rick Lowry's article, and must confess I didn't catch the same tone as you, particularly regarding Bush operating under any "delusion". In his summary he states:

"This doesn’t mean that Bush should abandon the liberalizing thrust of his foreign policy. A democratizing Middle East offers the best alternative to the violent, dictator-plagued region of today. But his administration would be well served to focus on the particular instead of the universal, and talk more of the messy compromises and disappointments that are inevitable on the path to a better Middle East, even if we eventually get there."

Lowry doesn't sound like he disagrees with the concept of spreading freedom, but rather acknowledges the plan has more obstacles and pitfalls than the President previously realized, or to date has passed on to the American public.

But deluded...I didn't read that part.

By the way, I still love ya'!

Lowry writes: "The problem with Bush’s freedom rhetoric is that it appears to not be true.... All around the chaotic and violent Middle East, human hearts are yearning for many things, but freedom isn’t high on the list." You're probably right that Lowry wouldn't use the word that I did--delusion--to describe Bush's projection of Western values upon all of humanity, but he seems convinced that Bush has an unflinching belief in a falsehood, which is what delusion is.

Whenever I read or hear Lowry I can't help but think of a scene from Billy Madison:

"Mr. Madison, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul."

One of the stupidest movies ever made. Then again, Adam Sandler is in it. 'Nuff said!