Is it possible that Bush duped Putin into misunderestimating him on Georgia? With the snap announcements of Germany recalculating the NAOT invite, and Poland accepting the anti-missile system, it almost seems that Bush had his own preparations in hand, and may have suckered Putin into one step too much. Bush even found an opportunity to pat Sarkozy on the head by sending Rice directly to France (not Germany or London) (BTW, did London fall off the map a few weeks ago? I haven’t heard a peep? Is Brown hiding under his cabinet table at No.10?)

Anyway, my son, no ready Bush supporter, nevertheless thinks Bush is a genius – a master of an ongoing farce that always ends in a deus ex machine with Bush back on top.

Could Bush really be the political Colombo of our time? I just don’t have enough evidence on either side of the issue. Would love to hear your thoughts on the question.