Pick One

I can never quite figure out what explains the ineptness of Bush's foreign policy. Is it idiocy, a plain lack of brain power? An insulation from the real world--the living inside the bubble problem (e.g. he proudly claims not to read newspapers)? The result of domestic politics, a belief that staying in power requires projecting a macho image? Or is it an inability to transcend a rigid ideology?
Today's exhibit comes from a recent meeting about Iraq:

"More generally, the participants said, the president expressed frustration that Iraqis had not come to appreciate the sacrifices the United States had made in Iraq, and was puzzled as to how a recent anti-American rally in support of Hezbollah in Baghdad could draw such a large crowd. “I do think he was frustrated about why 10,000 Shiites would go into the streets and demonstrate against the United States,” said another person who attended."

The press still seems to be voting for option #1, idiocy, considering the fact that they thought this observation newsworthy:

"Participants said Mr. Bush appeared serious and engaged during the lunch, which lasted more than 90 minutes, as the experts went through a lengthy discussion of the political, ethnic, religious and security challenges in Iraq."

Wow, you mean he managed to go an entire hour and a half without making faces, offering inappropriate massages, or choking on a pretzel? What's next, reading an entire book without pictures?
(link via Laura Rozen)