When Do We Hold Them Accountable?

As I sit here reading and listening to the palaver of "all" Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice will supposedly accomplish when she returns to the Middle East next week, I can't be the only American or world citizen for that matter who wonders why the hell she didn't accomplish the job last week, when she was originally sent over and when the Bushies had already taken their sweet Texas time bothering to address the bloodshed in Lebanon and the more limited number of casualties in Israel.

Israel told the world in the last few days that they have a "green light" for everything they are doing. Since Israel is really only talking to the U.S., one has to believe the green light is coming from Bush and Rice. Or Israel is lying. I suspect it's a little of both.

But let me note the reaction published in Salon and reposted at Blah3 from American chef, Anthony Bourdain, who happened to be in Beirut filming a program for the Travel Channel when all hell broke loose when Israel began to attack. Notice what he says about Mr. Bush's behavior in that open mile moment with Tony Blair at the G8 Summit:

What is clear -- as far as we're concerned -- from all sources is that there is no official, announced plan. No real advice, or information, or public exit strategy or timetable. The news clip of President Bush, chawing open-mouthed on a buttered roll, then grabbing at another while Tony Blair tries to get him to focus on Lebanon -- plays over and over on the TV, crushing our spirits and dampening all hope with every glassy-eyed mouthful. He seems intent on enjoying his food; Lebanon a tiny, annoying blip on an otherwise blank screen. I can't tell you how depressing that innocuous bit of footage is to watch. That one, innocent, momentary preoccupation with a roll has a devastating effect on us that is out of all proportion. We're looking for signs. And this, sadly, is all we have.

Sad indeed. Sadder still are some of the letters written to Salon suggesting that the Beruit residents that Bourdain meets somehow deserve what they got.