Is the President Easy to Dupe?

Following up on the theme of Bush doing business with a handshake, we have today's visit to Pakistan. The situation is highly tense, as it's clear that al Queda has made its base of operations on the border between Afghanistan and Pakistan and is widely supported by many people in this highly anti-American country. To effectively govern his people, then, Musharraf has to appear not to be too pro-American while simultaneously saying he is against the war on terror.

This morning on NPR, Don Gonyeah said the President acknowledged that he went to Pakistan to determine "whether or not Musharraf was as committed as he was in the past to bringing terrorist to justice." Bush also said he was satisfied that Musharraf was indeed doing his best.

Here we have another example of Bush thinking he can just stare down someone and know their convictions, almost like he's psychic or touched by God with the ability to discern the Truth of All Things. Bush seems more reliant on this method than he is with facts.

Is it possible that everyone knows this and actively dupes him? If he doesn't rely on facts, then actions don't actually speak louder than words with him. Instead, it's the actual words that make the most difference. We seem to know about where bin Laden is, but if Musharraf says he can't find him, well, that must be the truth of the matter.

We seem to have ineffective national security preparation (Katrina, 9/11), but since someone has told Bush they're truly committed to a safer America, it will all be OK.

We know that Bush himself is comfortable with lying through his teeth, but he also seems either comfortable with, or at least not willing to investigate, others doing the same thing right to his face. He feels better after a meeting with Musharraf, but should anybody else?