You did finally answer, for the first time. "I am not happy about our need to fight this world war. I just see no way out of it."
This is the core logic of your position. You think of Iraq as the first in a number of possible if regrettable invasions and aren't concerned that the truth wasn't told to the American people or the Congress,, which was conned into passing a resolution, to justify the Iraq invasion.
I wonder why any American would believe the reasons given for any future invasions. I wouldn't believe a thing that comes out of Bush's mouth. "What's the difference?" Unbelievable.
You're wrong about my reluctance to answer, and about my "gladness" about the Saddam regime being brought down! It's easy to answer! I am thrilled for those who were in torture chambers and now aren't. I cheered, screamed with delight, when the monster, their torturer, was caught.
I would cheer as loudly if Kim Il Jong were brought down. I am not a fan of monsters.
The question of my gladness with regard to any specific invasion isn't the relevant question. You know that. The relevant question is whether or not we have the resources, the capacity, the smarts, and the right under international law, to conduct a mad dog unilateralist/preemptivist policy into the indefinite future. On the question of smarts, you must be feeling a little nervous, facing the "world war," knowing that our intelligence apparatus gave us completely bogus information about WMD capacity in Iraq. You've heard of Pyrhhus? "One more such victory and we are lost."
The idea of fighting a permanent world war on the grounds you propose is one the people should be let in on. I wonder if during the campaign, the President will be as clear as you have been about such a projected scenario. I wonder if each installment of the world war will be justified by lies and tricks, including to the Congress, which is invested with the Constitutional authority to declare war -- or not to. I wonder if we can afford your scenarios. I wonder if there are other ways to skin a dog. One instrumentality, the UN Inspectorate, appears in retrospect to have succeeded in frustrating and annulling Saddam's WMD ambitions.
I won't even mention our Constitution and the buffetings it's likely to take, as Pax Americana becomes the dominant project of our time. It's too depressing. |
