For all the political news we cover here, I’m generally not on the Middle East\/escalating violence\/regional war beat. But a) that doesn’t mean I’m not following developments with great interest; and b) that’s no reason why we can’t open the subject up to some discussion.<\/p>\n
So, how scary is the Middle East? Israel, after provocation, is intent on putting Hezbollah “out of business<\/a>.” Iran’s involvement in orchestrating recent events is unclear<\/a>. So is Syria’s<\/a>.<\/p>\n There are, of course, far more questions<\/a> than answers. Will Hezbollah thrive in an unstable environment? Is Lebanon facing a civil war? Will Saudi Arabia stay on the sidelines? What’s Israel’s next move? And turning our attention closer to home, is there any chance President Bush is capable<\/a> of showing some leadership in response to the crisis?<\/p>\n With the world’s most perplexing problems weighing on him, President Bush has sought comic relief in a certain pig.<\/p>\n This is the wild game boar that German chef Olaf Micheel bagged for Bush and served Thursday evening at a barbecue in Trinwillershagen, a tiny town on the Baltic Sea.<\/p>\n “I understand I may have the honor of slicing the pig,” Bush said at a news conference earlier in the day punctuated with questions about spreading violence in the Middle East and an intensifying standoff with Iran about nuclear power.<\/p>\n The president’s host, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, started a serious ball rolling at this news conference in the 13th-century town hall on the cobblestone square of Stralsund. But Bush seemed more focused on “the feast” promised later. “Thanks for having me,” Bush told the chancellor. “I’m looking forward to that pig tonight.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n