Bush's Greatness
From the September 13, 2004 issue: There's a good reason he infuriates the reactionary left.
by David Gelernter
09/13/2004, Volume 010, Issue 01
Increase Font Size
Printer-Friendly
Email a Friend
Respond to this article
Page 2 of 2 < Back
President Bush had to respond to these post-Cold War realities; 9/11 meant that our pondering period was over. He announced, with deeds and not just words, that we would meet our moral obligations, police the playground, and overthrow tyrants; we would meet our practical obligations and continue to lead the fight against this new version of the terrorist-totalitarian axis.
We have often been told that we face, today, a whole new kind of war. Only partly true. For more than half a century we have battled totalitarian regimes (the Soviets, North Vietnam, Cuba . . . ) and the terrorists they sponsored. Today we are battling totalitarian regimes (Baathist Iraq and the Taliban's Afghanistan, Iran, North Korea) and the terrorists they sponsor. What's changed? Since we became modern history's first monopower, our obligations and maneuvering room are both greater. But the basic nature of the struggle is the same.
Lincoln said, "Let us, to the end, dare to do our duty as we understand it." Bush answered: "Okay; let's roll." We accept our obligation to be the world's policeman. If not us, who? If not now, when?
URL:http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/004/580vwath.asp?pg=2 |
