In his recent Townhall article, Frank Gaffney blames Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice for orchestrating the upcoming peace conference between Israel and the Palestinians -- a conference Gaffney considers a historical mistake and one that holds grave dangers for both Israel and America.

While Gaffney is correct in his assessment of the risks, he has selected the wrong target for his vitriol.

On November 12, 2003 I was living in London. George Bush was about to visit the UK. David Frost — now with Al Jazeera — interviewed Bush for the BBC. This was their exchange on the Middle East:

Q. And in–one of the reasons that people say, in the Arab world– obviously there was your landmark speech last week–but in the Arab world, that you won’t really be able to address the balance against America until the United States is seen not to tilt towards Israel in the Middle East. What do you think about that?

The President. I think about that: I think it’s an excuse, because America–I am the first President ever to go to the United Nations—-

Q. And say, two—-

The President. Two states side by side in peace.

Q. —-two states.

The President. No President has ever said that. And I said it, and I said it with conviction, because I believe it is in Israel’s interest that there be a peaceful Palestinian state, and I know it’s in the Palestinians’ interest. However, to achieve a peaceful Palestinian state, the emergence of a peaceful Palestinian state, a state where people are willing to risk capital, a place where people are willing to develop an economy, there must be a focused effort to defeat terror. And there hasn’t been with the current Palestinian leadership.

I went in and embraced, in Aqaba, Jordan, Abu Mazen. And the reason I did so, David, is because he came to the Oval Office and he said, “I will join you in the fight against terror. We’re not going to allow the few to destroy the hopes of the many.” As well, I could sense in his talk, in his feeling, that he has–he’s got great trust in the Palestinian people. In other words, given the chance, the Palestinian people will develop the habits of democracy, and out of that will come a great state, a peaceful state. And I trusted him, and we were working with him. We were making good progress. And I was working with Ariel Sharon. I gave a speech on June 24th, 2002, which says, “All of us have responsibilities, and you, Israel, have a responsibility.” Prime Minister Ariel Sharon of Israel

Q. Do you think Ariel Sharon could ever emerge as a man of peace?

The President. Yes, I do. I believe he wants peace for his people. I truly do. I mean, he’s a man who has presided over suiciders, where he has to go to the funerals of women and children because some cold- blooded killer is trying to destroy the hopes of all the people in the region. And it’s–yes, I believe so. And I believe he believes in a Palestinian state. I’ve asked him in the Oval Office, I said, “Listen, am I out there by myself on a Palestinian state, or will you support it?” He said he will. But both of us understand, as do a lot of other people, that for a state to emerge, there must be a focused effort to get after the Hamas killers, for example, who want to destroy the hopes of the people that believe in a Palestinian state. And there hasn’t been that effort.

Anyway, let me finish my Abu Mazen story, if you don’t mind. I embraced the guy, and I believe that he is a–I believe he’s a partner with whom we can work, and he’s shoved out. Progress is being made, and he is shoved aside by the old guard. And that’s unacceptable behavior. It’s just unacceptable.

For those like Frank Gaffney and others who believe that Annapolis is happening because Rice is a "zealot", who hold Bush harmless, and who wonder why the US and Israel are arming, financing, and negotiating with Abbas with the expectation — despite all evidence to the contrary — that he is willing and able to implement a peace agreement, the transcript above tells all.

What cannot be gleaned from the transcript, but what I saw that day in 2003 on BBC television, was the look of steely determination in the eyes of George Bush when he spoke of his goal of a Palestinian state.

That is what has set Annapolis is motion and what is driving this irrational and dangerous exercise in magical thinking.