As bizarre statements go, this one really takes the cake. Israel is a cause for optimism for democratic change throughout the Middle East? And exactly which of the hostile Arab Muslim states of the Middle East are looking to Israel as a model? In which of them is "democratic change" not opposed as anti-Islamic by significant forces that are growing in power?

"Bush links optimism for Mideast reform to democratic Israel," by Jennifer Loven for [1] AP, May 14 (thanks to Freckles):

JERUSALEM (AP) - President Bush said Wednesday that 60 years of Israel's existence is cause for optimism for democratic change throughout the Middle East. "What happened here is possible everywhere," Bush said, opening a trip divided between ceremonial duties and a new push for Israeli-Palestinian peace.

"I suspect if you looked back 60 years ago and tried to guess where Israel would be at that time, it would be hard to be able to project such a prosperous, hopeful land," Bush said during a meeting with Israeli President Shimon Peres. "No question, people would have said, 'We'd be surrounded by hostile forces.'"...

And they'd have been right. Does Bush not realize how hostile the "Palestinians" and Israel's neighbors are?