Bush's anti-terrorism policy

Your mission is to make the world safer after the terrible shock of Sept. 11? Here's one way:

Take a terrorist organization -- al-Qaeda. Bomb its training camps in Afghanistan, because it's in the folds of the Hindu Kush that the attacks that terrorize the civilized world are brewed up. It takes a few weeks, but your bombers are stronger than their aging peashooters.

You are told that the chief, a certain bin Laden, has disappeared into thin air. Call a press conference and deny it. Then let some time pass. The public has a short memory and will forget.

A year later, invade a Middle Eastern country -- Iraq -- because your mission is still to make the world safer. It's important that you find a pretext for it. Declare victory when the fighting is over. And if, some months later, the war still hasn't finished, call a press conference and deny it.

A year later, talk about elections and a return to democracy. You may have invaded the country for other reasons, but you have to save face. You only have a few months to get the Iraqis smiling. Hurry up, the election is coming. No, not the Iraqi one -- yours.

What? You've done everything you can in Baghdad and it's getting less and less secure? You're not in control and you don't understand why the country is on the verge of sectarian conflict? You have the impression that international terrorists are crossing the borders every night? Call a press conference and blame al-Qaeda. The public won't understand: Like you, it's confused about geography.

Unless, for once, you were right. By talking about a menace, you have created one. You have opened Pandora's box.

-- Le Temps, Geneva