GIVING THE MIDEAST A HAND (INVISIBLE)

If anything, our conduct in the Middle East these last few months has done nothing but show what substantial amounts of respect we have for them, their culture and their history. We gave them all the weapons of mass destruction they could possibly ever hope for (yes, including cluster bombs, chuck). We bravely enabled the looting of libraries, hospitals and museums in Baghdad (not to mention nuclear materials elsewhere, but that's another story) all while protecting our their precious oil ministry.

And now, in a lasting gesture of friendship that shows how much the Bushies respect the Middle East and its uniqueness in the world, we're giving them a beautiful, pristine gift: Free trade!!! That's right, as if we haven't done enough good things for the Arab world, Adam Smith's invisible hand is coming to lodge itself firmly, and perhaps permanently, in the region's collective rectum.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush Friday will unveil a broad plan to set up a free-trade area across the Middle East, two senior administration officials said.

He will announce what he calls "the U.S./Middle East free-trade agreement" in a commencement speech at the University of South Carolina in Columbia.

"It is another way to bring reform and prosperity to the Middle East which is a powerful tool for peace" one senior administration official said.

(what do Nike and Coke factory workers in southeast Asia think about trade and capitalism bringing peace to their lives?

(...)

Bush administration officials say the proposal he will talk about Friday envisions setting up a free trade zone with Middle Eastern countries within 10 years.

It would include opening trade opportunities for nations engaged in fighting terrorism and corruption, and committed to political and economic reform.

The United States would lobby for some countries seeking to become members of the World Trade Organization, and also negotiate bilateral treaties, according to a second senior administration official.

Such an idea would have to be approved by congress. Of course, that wasn't much of a problem for Dubya last fall. According to the article, though, one official was quoted as being skeptical about that happening anytime soon.