An important principle of effective rational discussion is the principle of charity. Framing your opponents arguments and motives in the most positive light you can. So for the moment lets assume that George's motives are pure that he believes the reasons he gave for his adventure. That he has the best interests of all Americans at heart. That he believed that removing Saddam from power when and how he did was the right decision. The facts, contrary to the version we're hearing from the White House, is that all is not well. The Washington Post is currently running an excellent series on the subject. Mistakes Loom Large as Handover Nears. In reading the article I was reminded of Cervantes' Don Quixote. The Knight-Errant who travels the countryside righting wrongs in the name of God. Two incidents from his story come to mind when discussing the War on Terror and Iraq. At one point Don Quixote attacks a group of monks accompanying a corpse. He believes the corpse is that of a knight whose death he must avenge. He charges at the monks breaking the leg of one young man. Quixote introduces himself as a knight whose "occupation and profession" is to "wander the world righting wrongs and rectifying injuries" The young man points out to Don Quixote that he is mistaken, as he was just fine until Don Quixote came along and broke his leg. The leg will be "injured for the rest of my life; it was a great misadventure for me to run across a man who is seeking adventures", he said. A view, I believe a majority of Iraqis are sympathetic too. In an earlier incident, Don Quixote comes across Andres a boy who is being whipped by his master. Don Quixote fulfilling his "duty" sends the master on his way. Later Andres turns up again and informs Don Quixote that everything turned out "very differently from what your grace imagines" The master returned, he explained, and flogged him all the harder telling the boy what a fool he was making of Don Quixote. Andres leaves Don Quixote with some words of wisdom, that should he ever come upon him again, even if he's being beaten "don't help me and don't come to my rescue." This is the Quixote pattern, and this it seems is the George Bush pattern. He acts from what he believes are righteous motives, but in the end causes more harm than good. At the end of Cervantes story Don Quixote returns home to retire, to become a shepard. He denounces "all the profane histories of knight errantry..." In the end Quixote calls for Sancho Panza and asks for forgiveness for "making you fall into the error into which I fell, thinking that there were and are knights errant in the world" Sancho pleads with him not to die. Quixote lives a few more days and then gives up the ghost. I don't wish George Bush ill, but I would pray for an early return to the Crawford Ranch. He could return to become a shepherd as Quixote did or just chop wood. The world would be a safer place.

note: the idea for this piece was spawned by a chapter on Don Quixote in James Wood's book " The Irresponsible Self - On Laughter and the Novel"