Taken from an AP story today titled "Iran Leader's Radicalism Angering Allies." I thought the story sounded familiar. I think you'll agree once you read it in light of my minor edits [in brackets]. In fact, it's rather stunning how just substituting "Bush" for "Ahmadinejad", "America" for "Iran" and so on can create a story that you would never guess wasn't about our president.
You can find the original article on Iran's new leader here: http://news.yahoo.com/...
[Washington DC, USA] - Critics say the 1980s-style radicalism of ultraconservative President [George Bush] is hurting [America] at home and abroad...
The [Christian] hard-liner appears undeterred, but pragmatists in the ruling hierarchy are growing restless and looking for ways to contain him.
"[Bush's] behavior has annoyed many fellow conservatives. That he doesn't like to consult with anybody outside his small circle of old friends is a reality," said [George Will], a conservative writer.
"He doesn't consult even with knowledgeable people in his own camp."
Even extremists within the hard-line camp want [Bush] to be more responsive to their advice...
Since taking office in [2001], [Bush] has jettisoned [America's] moderation in foreign policy and pursued a purge in the government, replacing pragmatic veterans with former military commanders and inexperienced religious hard-liners.
The former [Texas governor's] aim is to install a new generation of rulers who will revive the radical fundamentalist goals pursued in the 1980s under the late [Ronald Reagan], father of the 1979 revolution that toppled [America's internationalist president, Jimmy Carter].
All pragmatists, including those seeking better ties with the [rest of the world], have either lost their posts or likely will lose them soon, pushing the government toward an ever more radical stance in the already volatile Middle East and in the international dispute over Iran's nuclear program, which the United States believes is seeking to build weapons.
[American] moderates say the president has harmed his country by isolating it internationally, and now [Bush's] friends are lining up against him. He suffered a humiliating defeat last [month] when his choice for [Supreme Court justice] was rejected... an unprecedented failure for a... president.
While parliament is dominated by [Bush's] conservative allies, the president's isolationist stance and his failure to consult on Cabinet appointments have annoyed lawmakers. They warn they will not approve any future nominee unless [Bush] first consults parliament.
Pragmatists within the ruling establishment worry that [Bush's] radical agenda has sidelined a cadre of experienced men at home and isolated the country abroad.
Earlier this month, the government announced that 40 ambassadors and senior diplomats, including supporters of better ties with the [rest of the world], would be fired...
In the works, but still not made public, is a deeper shake-up of the establishment in which [Bush] is replacing hundreds of...senior officials at various [intelligence and diplomatic] ministries with young, inexperienced [Neo-con] hard-liners who oppose good relations with the [rest of the world]. The changes include putting fundamentalists in key posts at security agencies.
[Bill Clinton], [america's] president in the 1990s who remains influential with some in both the hard-line and moderate camps, said the purge has made [america] vulnerable.
"Unfortunately, some are on the offensive, damaging what has been done, and purging competent people. This is hurting the country," [Clinton] said....
[Karen Hughes], a senior adviser to the president, said [Americans] and other nations have to accept that [Bush] prefers to work in isolation.
"Yes, the president consults (only) his trusted friends," Hughes said. "[Bush] has a revolutionary management policy. He makes decisions within 24 hours that previous governments used to take within five years."