Last Thursday evening you no doubt listened to President George W. Bush espouse what is now dubbed “The Bush Doctrine.” His words certainly served well to rally the American people and to garner popular support for the indefinite war against terrorism which he now plans to wage in the aftermath of last Tuesday.
While I do feel that decisive action must be taken in response to the horrendous and terrible acts of last week, I do not think that our President’s goals are reasonable, though they certainly are attainable especially for a nation of our power and prestige. The question then becomes not how, but at what cost? Waging a ground assault against Afghanistan is like marching on Moscow in the winter?a mistake to be certain.
I had the esteemed privilege of being in the first row of a lecture given by Madeleine Albright last night here on campus. I share her sentiments with regard to the harshness and rashness of the President’s words and promises. Bush has drawn a line in the sand both too deep to cross and too wide to straddle. It seems that Bush is following the lead of all those whom history has deemed great by classifying the world into “Us” and “Them.” There are many nations who, though not friendly and hospitable toward the United States do not aid and abet those who wish to cause terror and strife within our borders.
Russia is one such nation. Our dealings with Russia are always tenuous at best, and we have never been certain as to the degree to which their leaders, even to some extent Putin today, can be trusted. At the same time, the Russians are not hurling warheads and missles across the Pacific at our civilians.
Certainly some nations may wish to remain neutral for fear that taking the side of the United States might provoke terrorist acts against their own people.
Bush, in his historic address before Congress, the Supreme Court, British Prime Minister Tony Blair and others, committed the United States to a very strong and treacherous course of action. I worry for the safety not only of our fighting men and women (my father and Uncle Dave included) but also for the millions of innocent civilians who still sit as targets for terrorist groups.
I disagree with pointing fingers at Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda without a larger body of proof, but I understand why the White House and Congress have singled them out: America needs someone to blame for what happened. We need someone to be held accountable and to be brought to justice. Whoever is responsible for these acts, be they bin Laden and al Qaeda or otherwise, they will surely feel great pressure from the West, and I fear that pressure could cause the terrorist cells to explode with undirected wrath and unimaginable fury at civilians and soldiers alike.
Whatever happens from this day on, prayers must be said, and we should treat all our fellow Americans?every single one of us?with the dignity and respect that accompanies citizenship in this fine and noble nation among nations.
