Wanted: Firefighter in Chief
Several weeks into the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, it appears that the Bush Administration has no interest in modifying their initial plans to work towards a "lasting solution" rather than an "immediate ceasefire." While it has long been obvious that Bush is dead set on leaving a historic mark on U.S. history, he must learn that sometimes it's necessary to achieve short-term results while developing long-term solutions.
Here in Los Angeles, our biggest problem during the summer tends to be wildfires (second only to overwhelming demands on the power companies). It's an ongoing problem, the result of a variety of factors including increased temperatures, the expansion of housing developments into fire-prone areas, careless smokers and the occasional fame-seeking arsonist. When they occur, firefighters are immediately called in, and they bravely battle the flames until the fire has been contained and ultimately extinguished. But until they are able to get the situation under control, residents are evacuated, homes are destroyed and horrible clouds of toxic smoke ascend into the air for the whole city to breathe.
Now, if we took the Bush Administration approach, southern California would be nothing more than a giant charred wasteland. Rather than trying to quickly put out the fires, our local authorities would take a "longview" approach, sitting in meetings and discussing plans to prevent any possible outbreak of fires in the future. In the meantime, residents' homes, possessions and livelihoods would be destroyed. Most likely, the authorities in power would lose their re-election campaigns, ultimately reducing their chance of implementing any brilliant longterm solutions they might develop.
Of course, it's natural for leaders to want to solve big-picture problems and leave a lasting legacy. But sometimes they also have to roll up their sleeves and put out the short-term fires that threaten the overall well-being of the world. That's why it's time for the Bush Administration to realize that calling for a ceasefire in Lebanon doesn't preclude the possibility of a lasting peace. If anything, it allows the parties involved to conduct calm, rational discussions about how to achieve longterm solutions. For who could have a focused debate on whether or not to re-finance their mortgage when they know that a casserole is burning in the oven?
Technorati Tags: Lebanon, Israel, Hezbollah, Middle East, Fighting, War, Ceasefire, Bush, Bush Administration, Peace
