Nancy Pelosi's Starring Role in the Caine Mutiny

I remain ever more perplexed and skeptical of Nancy Pelosi's tour of the Middle East.

There was something discomforting in watching Pelosi stand next to leaders I fear would take this chick pea and turn her into hummus. This is all a show. A sham. A dress rehearsal to show people at home who feel paralyzed by Bush and the people around the world who distrust him that help is on the way.

Is this the best American democracy has to offer?

If Bush was clueless, I think Pelosi is even further off the mark. At least Bush was correct on the disease in a post 9/11 world. Ms. Pelosi has never once shown any originality in her ruminations about war, Iraq and the Arab mind. Forget Dubya for a second. Democrats have been falling all over themselves silly trying to desperately come up with solutions and alternatives regarding the Middle East. One after another they step forward with plans and resolutions that change four quarters for a dollar. For the enemy, this sort of entertainment is priceless; one giant SNL skit.

Pelosi is using Dubya's unpopularity to push herself in a position to set the tone for a new and improved America on the foreign policy front. She's off to a terrible start.

She walked into a lion's den and she's the defenseless Christian. Many Americans may feel their leader is a coward and incompetent but actually indirectly challenging the Commander-in-Chief - I doubt she's there to support him - takes some nerve. Was this the right call to make? Her "Fret not friends. I am here" demeanor is a modern reenactment of "E Tu, Brute?"

Pelosi and Bush, are enemies at home. They should be allies abroad. Her actions are political opportunism at its worst. Politicians are good at claiming the moral high ground - until they get into power. After that it's all bets are off.

What did Pelosi hope to accomplish exactly? Already, early reports indicate that she sounds like a naive teenager. "I told him that if he doesn't stop cheating it will be over. You'll see. I'm not like the other girls." Er, yeah right. What ever happened to standing behind your leader? What if you're wrong? What if in the long term Iraq takes shape? Why in the world would you want to attempt to send a second signal on foreign policy in an already fragile situation? Ironically, this only further damages American credibility in the eyes of Arab leaders.

Bush may have willingly entered the military trapped set my Al-Queda but Pelosi is committing her own massive errors in judgment in diplomacy. She'll be schooled by Arab thugs.

Syrian leader: "Murder? What murder? You Americans watch too many movies."

Pelosi: "Yeah, maybe you're right. You know, these guys are not so bad after all. they taught me how to make tabouleh!"

No wonder Americans are looked upon as childish some times. They are persistently portrayed as teenagers in the eyes of a much more seasoned - albeit cynical and tired - world. They are a tad too ready to air their dirty laundry for self-serving gains. Over to you Jane Fonda.

So. Is it any wonder Americans appear weak and divided in a region that sees life through a different prism from our own.? When Arab leaders - who lead a fragmented, fragile existence - say talk they mean fight. Or scream. When they say fight they mean run. Or walk. You get the picture. They keep you guessing. It takes a certain skilled individual seasoned in the art of Middle-East history and governance to navigate through this heavy, volatile, profound maze.

What a mess. It makes sense now. They say good manners and morals begin at home. It should be no different in foreign policy. Strong American public relations starts at home.