Yeah, sure...and I want a pony...

For all of his world travels and reputation for expertise when it comes to reporting on foreign relations/policy you have to wonder how Thomas Friedman manages to remain so naive. He's honest enough to make the following observation:

Tell people the truth. Saddam does not threaten us today. He can be deterred. Taking him out is a war of choice — but it's a legitimate choice. It's because he is undermining the U.N., it's because if left alone he will seek weapons that will threaten all his neighbors, it's because you believe the people of Iraq deserve to be liberated from his tyranny, and it's because you intend to help Iraqis create a progressive state that could stimulate reform in the Arab/Muslim world, so that this region won't keep churning out angry young people who are attracted to radical Islam and are the real weapons of mass destruction.

That's the case for war — and it will require years of occupying Iraq and a simultaneous effort to defuse the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to create a regional context for success. If done right, such a war could shrink Al Qaeda's influence — but Al Qaeda is a separate enemy that will have to be fought separately, and will remain a threat even if Saddam is ousted.

Then he goes all "wish-upon-a-star":

Some of this we can't control. But some we can, which is why it's time for the Bush team to shape up — dial down the attitude, start selling this war on the truth, give us a budget that prepares the nation for a war abroad, not a party at home, and start doing everything possible to create a global context where we can confront Saddam without the world applauding for him.

The Bush Administration has had months to do any and all of this, but they haven't, and they won't, because they don't think they have to. Besides, that would mean admitting that the Cheney-Rice-Powell-Rumsfeld Axis of Incompetence have been leading us down a two-year boondoggle. Those four wasted the world's sympathy following 9/11 by exhibiting every possible facet of ugly-Americanism: arrogance, thoughtlessness, bullying, anti-intellectualism, self-righteousness, and provincial religiosity. Let's face it; they have been mirroring the best attributes of the Boy Emperor.

So Tom Friedman had best disabuse himself of hoping for a change for the better. The Bush Administration can no more change its spots than George Bush can change the yellow stripe down his back.

(Added)

Andy Sullivan mentions the Friedman column and makes this statement:

IS CHIRAC BUSH'S FAULT? Tom Friedman seems to think so. I wish I thought that the visceral hostility of Chirac and Schroder were a function of George Bush's bad diplomacy. But I fear their positions would be the same whatever president was in power, if he were trying to accomplish the magnitude of what Bush is aiming for in the war on terror.

Whoa there, Prince of Provincetown....

"whatever President was in power"?

If another President were in power, say the guy who got more votes, we wouldn't be beating the wardrums about Iraq. Last I heard, Saddam never made an attempt on the late Sen. Gore.

Oh, and as for this:

And does Friedman think Colin Powell's ceaseless efforts around the globe were window-dressing?

See this

Window-dressing would be putting a positive spin on it. After last week, Powell's credibility is approaching Michael Jackson territory.