Today George Bush declared in so many words that this is "a crusade against evildoers".

Crusade. Just think for a moment what that word means to Arab and to Muslims generally.

Only two explanations. The first would be that either George Bush, or whoever put those words into his mouth, is actually trying to alienate Muslims and make it harder for them to support whatever America does.

The other is that he is so monumentally stupid that he is a danger to all of us, and he is out of control.

In either case he is doing the one thing that the terrorists of last Tuesday must have hoped he would do. Saying that has very likely cost the lives of some Americans in the weeks and months ahead.

This isn't about politics. Oh yes, I don't like Bush, and I've always been astonished that so many people seem to find him likeable, and I don't like his politics either, but that's not the point.

I am certain that, if I had been an American and had voted for Bush, and if I admired his politics, and liked him enormously as a person, I would feel no different about it. Angry, scared, and betrayed. If I employed someone who made a grotesque mistake like that in a life and death situation like this, I would sack him or her immediately.