Disparity

Listen to the press in this country and you hear nothing but Mr. Bush is mending fences, building new alliances, embracing a love affair with Europe (and they all just love him).

Read the overseas press, however, and that love affair seems a might rocky. His talk of Syria being so bad for occupying Lebanon strikes our foreign friends as somewhat hypocritical considering we're in Iraq. His finger wagging at Russia has them scratching their heads because they know that democracy and freedom of the press have taken quite a hit in the states under his watch. His strong words about Iran remind many of similar words directed at Iraq just two years ago. His great compassion toward Tsunami victims also rings hollow with them given the fact that to date, Mr. Bush himself has not pledged a penny of his own fortune and the U.S. announced it was pulling out relief efforts well ahead of schedule, even when told they were needed longer.

Once again, Mr. Bush says he's looking out at the entire world when it turns out that he's staring into a mirror instead.