Opinion - Joe Conason

The government of Israel appears to suffer from the same mental and moral dysfunctions that afflict the Bush administration: an urge to wage war without any plausible objectives, any viable plan for disengagement, or any rational assessment of costs and benefits. Israel's second invasion of Lebanon, only weeks old and with considerably more justification, is already beginning to resemble the American invasion of Iraq.

The conventional narrative of what may become Joe Lieberman's final campaign for public office -- parroted faithfully by pundits and politicians who admire the Connecticut senator -- is a moving tale of courageous dissent in the very maw of fanatical extremism.

Watching the president of the United States try to fulfill his responsibilities at an international summit is a sobering experience these days. To observe George W. Bush talking trash, chewing with his mouth open and demonstrating his ignorance of geography marks still another step down in the continuing decline of U.S. prestige. It's the diplomatic equivalent of flag burning.

Whenever Sen. Joseph Lieberman complains that he is the target of a "single-issue" challenge by upstart millionaire Ned Lamont, the three-term incumbent proves he doesn't quite get what is happening to him. It is true that the Lamont campaign began as a protest against his slavish support of the war in Iraq. It is untrue that growing anti-war sentiment is the sole reason for his peril in next month's Democratic primary.