Let's Hear It For The Protesters

Three cheers for the protesters who surrounded Laura Bush and made sure her visit to the Dome of the Rock got the reception it deserved.
The protesters did not harm Mrs. Bush, they waited until she came onto holy Muslim ground, and they used the visit to ensure that the Bush administration could not use Mrs. Bush to put a kinder, gentler face on the regime's disdain for all things Islamic.
I wouldn't cheer on the protesters were Laura's trip not an attempt to win support for her husband's harmful policies. But she should no better than to think she can make him look better in this part of the world to which he has done so much damage.
Oh, and by the way, three cheers to the nation of Israel for making sure that the Bush administration could not orchestrate the first lady's public appearances to the same degree that they can within our borders. It's nice that at least one of our allies actually takes seriously the rights to free speech and freedom of assembly. I have many disagreements with Israeli policy on many issues, but on this one I salute the nation and its people.