IT'S MORE THAN JUST THE ECONOMY As the beginning of the probable war with Iraq draws closer, the debate continues regarding the overall strategy we should be deploying, but, no matter which of the many sides of the debate we might be on, the simple fact is that we have to rely on President Bush to make the right decision, because, barring any
mass revolt by the American public, the decision is in his hands. Is he up to it? Surely he has the best information available, but is he intelligent enough and wise enough to make the best possible decision after weighing all the facts? The decision will have
political consequences, and there is the real possibility that he will be damned if he does and damned if he doesn't. Does he have the moral foundation and courage to make a decision that is based on national security rather than his political future? These are all good questions, but, unfortunately, it is too damn late for anybody to be asking them.
These are questions that voters should have been asking themselves in November 2000, but, since the end of the Cold War, elections have been about "the economy, stupid." In 2000 the debate between the candidates was about who could serve up the biggest pile of government goodies, and virtually no thought was given to the fact that the occupant of the White House has his finger on the Red Button.
It will always be a dangerous world, and it is good that national security issues are once again a part of the debate. It is unfortunate that it took 9/11 to accomplish this.
Carl Swenlin |
