William Safire: The wave of the future
William Safire The New York Times Thursday, December 23, 2004
WASHINGTON I now admit to having expected the war in Iraq to be won in a matter
of months, not years. Saddam Hussein's plan to disperse his forces and conduct
a murderous insurgency, abetted by his terrorist allies, was a surprise.
..
This by no means suggests that President George W. Bush's decision to overthrow
a dangerous despotism was a mistake. On the contrary, it was and is the right
war (against a genocidal maniac who was gaining strength) in the right place
(the Middle East cradle of terror) for the right purpose (to get the Arab
street out of the rut of hatred and onto a path to freedom).
..
In return for today's grudging concession of tactical misjudgment, however, I
claim this expectation: When and if we Americans discover hidden supplies of
germ weapons in Iraq or Syria, and as future confessions reveal the extent of
connections between Al Qaeda and Saddam, the legion of war critics will
forthrightly admit their certitude was misplaced.
..
But more to today's point is our difference of opinion about strategy: I stand
with those who believe this war was right and that its sacrifices will be
justified by lives saved and tyranny diminished. I disagree with those who
opposed the pre-emptive fight from the start or who have lost heart when it
dragged on too long and are casting about for scapegoats.
..
Here are criteria to measure success or failure in the battle for democracy in
the region and the struggles for freedom around the world:
..
First, will Iraq stay whole and its people free?
..
The present answer is: We'll see. The only debate in the United States now
seems to be about whether to raise the number of American troops there to help
finish the job; only a small minority is calling for a pullout. We are
committed, as we should be, to success; so are the Iraqi Kurds; we'll see how
eager the Shiite majority is to end its long Sunni Baathist subjugation.
..
Next, has America's huge military engagement in the Middle East helped produce
progress toward democracy in Muslim countries where monarchs and dictators now
rule?
..
Signs are that the answer is yes. At a conference last week in Dubai, Gulf
states spoke openly of economic reform and a campaign against corruption, which
must have worried oppressive theocrats in Iran. Egypt, Jordan and Morocco are
beginning to see glimmers of liberty's light, which embarrasses reactionary
Saudis and terrorist Syrians. The groundswell is felt in Asia, where populous
Indonesia and Malaysia are showing how Islamic nations can prosper by combating
medieval fundamentalism.
..
On top of that, America's decision to stay the course after its overthrow of
Saddam - a financial backer of suicide bombers and hero of Palestinian
jihadists - has helped revivify the prospect of peace in the Holy Land after
the death of Arafat. Our military activism emboldened Israel to risk withdrawal
from Gaza, and should encourage Palestinians to elect a rational state maker
next month.
..
A final criterion: Is our confidence in the desire of 20 million literate
Iraqis to live in relative liberty being reflected in the recent run of
elections in the world?
..
Australians voted to remain our stalwart ally in Iraq. Afghanistan's voters
took their lives in their hands to blaze their trail to a democratic
government. Americans voted decisively to endorse our hopes rather than our
fears in Iraq. Ukrainian voters refused to let a corrupt regime backed by the
power of Russia's Putin deny them their democratic rights; they will most
likely assert their independence this weekend.
..
That will mark four straight victories for those we Wilsonian idealists
consider the good guys, with two to go next month in the future, Palestine and
in Iraq. One election may be sensibly peaceful and the other bloodily
courageous, but our Iraqi commitment has strengthened the trend.
..
In 1940, Anne Morrow Lindbergh wrote a provocative apologia for fascism titled
"The Wave of the Future." President Franklin Roosevelt answered those who
believed "that, for some unexplained reason, tyranny and slavery have become
the surging wave of the future - and that freedom is an ebbing tide. But we
Americans know that this is not true."
..
Less true now than ever. Once again, America and its allies ensure that freedom
is the wave of the future.
..
See more of the world that matters - click here for home delivery of the
International Herald Tribune.
< < Back to Start of Article WASHINGTON I now admit to having expected the war
in Iraq to be won in a matter of months, not years. Saddam Hussein's plan to
disperse his forces and conduct a murderous insurgency, abetted by his
terrorist allies, was a surprise.
..
This by no means suggests that President George W. Bush's decision to overthrow
a dangerous despotism was a mistake. On the contrary, it was and is the right
war (against a genocidal maniac who was gaining strength) in the right place
(the Middle East cradle of terror) for the right purpose (to get the Arab
street out of the rut of hatred and onto a path to freedom).
..
In return for today's grudging concession of tactical misjudgment, however, I
claim this expectation: When and if we Americans discover hidden supplies of
germ weapons in Iraq or Syria, and as future confessions reveal the extent of
connections between Al Qaeda and Saddam, the legion of war critics will
forthrightly admit their certitude was misplaced.
..
But more to today's point is our difference of opinion about strategy: I stand
with those who believe this war was right and that its sacrifices will be
justified by lives saved and tyranny diminished. I disagree with those who
opposed the pre-emptive fight from the start or who have lost heart when it
dragged on too long and are casting about for scapegoats.
..
Here are criteria to measure success or failure in the battle for democracy in
the region and the struggles for freedom around the world:
..
First, will Iraq stay whole and its people free?
..
The present answer is: We'll see. The only debate in the United States now
seems to be about whether to raise the number of American troops there to help
finish the job; only a small minority is calling for a pullout. We are
committed, as we should be, to success; so are the Iraqi Kurds; we'll see how
eager the Shiite majority is to end its long Sunni Baathist subjugation.
..
Next, has America's huge military engagement in the Middle East helped produce
progress toward democracy in Muslim countries where monarchs and dictators now
rule?
..
Signs are that the answer is yes. At a conference last week in Dubai, Gulf
states spoke openly of economic reform and a campaign against corruption, which
must have worried oppressive theocrats in Iran. Egypt, Jordan and Morocco are
beginning to see glimmers of liberty's light, which embarrasses reactionary
Saudis and terrorist Syrians. The groundswell is felt in Asia, where populous
Indonesia and Malaysia are showing how Islamic nations can prosper by combating
medieval fundamentalism.
..
On top of that, America's decision to stay the course after its overthrow of
Saddam - a financial backer of suicide bombers and hero of Palestinian
jihadists - has helped revivify the prospect of peace in the Holy Land after
the death of Arafat. Our military activism emboldened Israel to risk withdrawal
from Gaza, and should encourage Palestinians to elect a rational state maker
next month.
..
A final criterion: Is our confidence in the desire of 20 million literate
Iraqis to live in relative liberty being reflected in the recent run of
elections in the world?
..
Australians voted to remain our stalwart ally in Iraq. Afghanistan's voters
took their lives in their hands to blaze their trail to a democratic
government. Americans voted decisively to endorse our hopes rather than our
fears in Iraq. Ukrainian voters refused to let a corrupt regime backed by the
power of Russia's Putin deny them their democratic rights; they will most
likely assert their independence this weekend.
..
That will mark four straight victories for those we Wilsonian idealists
consider the good guys, with two to go next month in the future, Palestine and
in Iraq. One election may be sensibly peaceful and the other bloodily
courageous, but our Iraqi commitment has strengthened the trend.
..
In 1940, Anne Morrow Lindbergh wrote a provocative apologia for fascism titled
"The Wave of the Future." President Franklin Roosevelt answered those who
believed "that, for some unexplained reason, tyranny and slavery have become
the surging wave of the future - and that freedom is an ebbing tide. But we
Americans know that this is not true."
..
Less true now than ever. Once again, America and its allies ensure that freedom
is the wave of the future.
..WASHINGTON I now admit to having expected the war in Iraq to be won in a
matter of months, not years. Saddam Hussein's plan to disperse his forces and
conduct a murderous insurgency, abetted by his terrorist allies, was a
surprise.
..
This by no means suggests that President George W. Bush's decision to overthrow
a dangerous despotism was a mistake. On the contrary, it was and is the right
war (against a genocidal maniac who was gaining strength) in the right place
(the Middle East cradle of terror) for the right purpose (to get the Arab
street out of the rut of hatred and onto a path to freedom).
..
In return for today's grudging concession of tactical misjudgment, however, I
claim this expectation: When and if we Americans discover hidden supplies of
germ weapons in Iraq or Syria, and as future confessions reveal the extent of
connections between Al Qaeda and Saddam, the legion of war critics will
forthrightly admit their certitude was misplaced.
..
But more to today's point is our difference of opinion about strategy: I stand
with those who believe this war was right and that its sacrifices will be
justified by lives saved and tyranny diminished. I disagree with those who
opposed the pre-emptive fight from the start or who have lost heart when it
dragged on too long and are casting about for scapegoats.
..
Here are criteria to measure success or failure in the battle for democracy in
the region and the struggles for freedom around the world:
..
First, will Iraq stay whole and its people free?
..
The present answer is: We'll see. The only debate in the United States now
seems to be about whether to raise the number of American troops there to help
finish the job; only a small minority is calling for a pullout. We are
committed, as we should be, to success; so are the Iraqi Kurds; we'll see how
eager the Shiite majority is to end its long Sunni Baathist subjugation.
..
Next, has America's huge military engagement in the Middle East helped produce
progress toward democracy in Muslim countries where monarchs and dictators now
rule?
..
Signs are that the answer is yes. At a conference last week in Dubai, Gulf
states spoke openly of economic reform and a campaign against corruption, which
must have worried oppressive theocrats in Iran. Egypt, Jordan and Morocco are
beginning to see glimmers of liberty's light, which embarrasses reactionary
Saudis and terrorist Syrians. The groundswell is felt in Asia, where populous
Indonesia and Malaysia are showing how Islamic nations can prosper by combating
medieval fundamentalism.
..
On top of that, America's decision to stay the course after its overthrow of
Saddam - a financial backer of suicide bombers and hero of Palestinian
jihadists - has helped revivify the prospect of peace in the Holy Land after
the death of Arafat. Our military activism emboldened Israel to risk withdrawal
from Gaza, and should encourage Palestinians to elect a rational state maker
next month.
..
A final criterion: Is our confidence in the desire of 20 million literate
Iraqis to live in relative liberty being reflected in the recent run of
elections in the world?
..
Australians voted to remain our stalwart ally in Iraq. Afghanistan's voters
took their lives in their hands to blaze their trail to a democratic
government. Americans voted decisively to endorse our hopes rather than our
fears in Iraq. Ukrainian voters refused to let a corrupt regime backed by the
power of Russia's Putin deny them their democratic rights; they will most
likely assert their independence this weekend.
..
That will mark four straight victories for those we Wilsonian idealists
consider the good guys, with two to go next month in the future, Palestine and
in Iraq. One election may be sensibly peaceful and the other bloodily
courageous, but our Iraqi commitment has strengthened the trend.
..
In 1940, Anne Morrow Lindbergh wrote a provocative apologia for fascism titled
"The Wave of the Future." President Franklin Roosevelt answered those who
believed "that, for some unexplained reason, tyranny and slavery have become
the surging wave of the future - and that freedom is an ebbing tide. But we
Americans know that this is not true."
..
Less true now than ever. Once again, America and its allies ensure that freedom
is the wave of the future.
..WASHINGTON I now admit to having expected the war in Iraq to be won in a
matter of months, not years. Saddam Hussein's plan to disperse his forces and
conduct a murderous insurgency, abetted by his terrorist allies, was a
surprise.
..
This by no means suggests that President George W. Bush's decision to overthrow
a dangerous despotism was a mistake. On the contrary, it was and is the right
war (against a genocidal maniac who was gaining strength) in the right place
(the Middle East cradle of terror) for the right purpose (to get the Arab
street out of the rut of hatred and onto a path to freedom).
..
In return for today's grudging concession of tactical misjudgment, however, I
claim this expectation: When and if we Americans discover hidden supplies of
germ weapons in Iraq or Syria, and as future confessions reveal the extent of
connections between Al Qaeda and Saddam, the legion of war critics will
forthrightly admit their certitude was misplaced.
..
But more to today's point is our difference of opinion about strategy: I stand
with those who believe this war was right and that its sacrifices will be
justified by lives saved and tyranny diminished. I disagree with those who
opposed the pre-emptive fight from the start or who have lost heart when it
dragged on too long and are casting about for scapegoats.
..
Here are criteria to measure success or failure in the battle for democracy in
the region and the struggles for freedom around the world:
..
First, will Iraq stay whole and its people free?
..
The present answer is: We'll see. The only debate in the United States now
seems to be about whether to raise the number of American troops there to help
finish the job; only a small minority is calling for a pullout. We are
committed, as we should be, to success; so are the Iraqi Kurds; we'll see how
eager the Shiite majority is to end its long Sunni Baathist subjugation.
..
Next, has America's huge military engagement in the Middle East helped produce
progress toward democracy in Muslim countries where monarchs and dictators now
rule?
..
Signs are that the answer is yes. At a conference last week in Dubai, Gulf
states spoke openly of economic reform and a campaign against corruption, which
must have worried oppressive theocrats in Iran. Egypt, Jordan and Morocco are
beginning to see glimmers of liberty's light, which embarrasses reactionary
Saudis and terrorist Syrians. The groundswell is felt in Asia, where populous
Indonesia and Malaysia are showing how Islamic nations can prosper by combating
medieval fundamentalism.
..
On top of that, America's decision to stay the course after its overthrow of
Saddam - a financial backer of suicide bombers and hero of Palestinian
jihadists - has helped revivify the prospect of peace in the Holy Land after
the death of Arafat. Our military activism emboldened Israel to risk withdrawal
from Gaza, and should encourage Palestinians to elect a rational state maker
next month.
..
A final criterion: Is our confidence in the desire of 20 million literate
Iraqis to live in relative liberty being reflected in the recent run of
elections in the world?
..
Australians voted to remain our stalwart ally in Iraq. Afghanistan's voters
took their lives in their hands to blaze their trail to a democratic
government. Americans voted decisively to endorse our hopes rather than our
fears in Iraq. Ukrainian voters refused to let a corrupt regime backed by the
power of Russia's Putin deny them their democratic rights; they will most
likely assert their independence this weekend.
..
That will mark four straight victories for those we Wilsonian idealists
consider the good guys, with two to go next month in the future, Palestine and
in Iraq. One election may be sensibly peaceful and the other bloodily
courageous, but our Iraqi commitment has strengthened the trend.
..
In 1940, Anne Morrow Lindbergh wrote a provocative apologia for fascism titled
"The Wave of the Future." President Franklin Roosevelt answered those who
believed "that, for some unexplained reason, tyranny and slavery have become
the surging wave of the future - and that freedom is an ebbing tide. But we
Americans know that this is not true."
..
Less true now than ever. Once again, America and its allies ensure that freedom
is the wave of the future.
..
.
|
|
| User: "Grantland" |
|
| Title: Re: The wave of the future |
27 Dec 2004 09:39:48 AM |
|
|
(TonyZ2001) wrote:
William Safire: The wave of the future
<more Jewish ***** on Tony's adoring face.>
Eat it Tony. You filth. Eat it up.
G
.
|
|
|
|
| User: "Tadapope" |
|
| Title: Re: The wave of the future |
27 Dec 2004 05:19:29 PM |
|
|
Subject: The wave of the future
From: (TonyZ2001)
Date: 12/27/04 7:13 AM Pacific Standard Time
Message-id: <20041227101300.10314.00001687@mb-m25.aol.com>
William Safire: The wave of the future
William Safire The New York Times Thursday, December 23, 2004
WASHINGTON I now admit to having expected the war in Iraq to be won in a
matter
of months, not years. Saddam Hussein's plan to disperse his forces and
conduct
a murderous insurgency, abetted by his terrorist allies, was a surprise.
.
This by no means suggests that President George W. Bush's decision to
overthrow
a dangerous despotism was a mistake. On the contrary, it was and is the right
war (against a genocidal maniac who was gaining strength) in the right place
(the Middle East cradle of terror) for the right purpose (to get the Arab
street out of the rut of hatred and onto a path to freedom).
.
In return for today's grudging concession of tactical misjudgment, however, I
claim this expectation: When and if we Americans discover hidden supplies of
germ weapons in Iraq or Syria, and as future confessions reveal the extent of
connections between Al Qaeda and Saddam, the legion of war critics will
forthrightly admit their certitude was misplaced.
.
But more to today's point is our difference of opinion about strategy: I
stand
with those who believe this war was right and that its sacrifices will be
justified by lives saved and tyranny diminished. I disagree with those who
opposed the pre-emptive fight from the start or who have lost heart when it
dragged on too long and are casting about for scapegoats.
.
Here are criteria to measure success or failure in the battle for democracy
in
the region and the struggles for freedom around the world:
.
First, will Iraq stay whole and its people free?
.
The present answer is: We'll see. The only debate in the United States now
seems to be about whether to raise the number of American troops there to
help
finish the job; only a small minority is calling for a pullout. We are
committed, as we should be, to success; so are the Iraqi Kurds; we'll see how
eager the Shiite majority is to end its long Sunni Baathist subjugation.
.
Next, has America's huge military engagement in the Middle East helped
produce
progress toward democracy in Muslim countries where monarchs and dictators
now
rule?
.
Signs are that the answer is yes. At a conference last week in Dubai, Gulf
states spoke openly of economic reform and a campaign against corruption,
which
must have worried oppressive theocrats in Iran. Egypt, Jordan and Morocco are
beginning to see glimmers of liberty's light, which embarrasses reactionary
Saudis and terrorist Syrians. The groundswell is felt in Asia, where populous
Indonesia and Malaysia are showing how Islamic nations can prosper by
combating
medieval fundamentalism.
.
On top of that, America's decision to stay the course after its overthrow of
Saddam - a financial backer of suicide bombers and hero of Palestinian
jihadists - has helped revivify the prospect of peace in the Holy Land after
the death of Arafat. Our military activism emboldened Israel to risk
withdrawal
from Gaza, and should encourage Palestinians to elect a rational state maker
next month.
.
A final criterion: Is our confidence in the desire of 20 million literate
Iraqis to live in relative liberty being reflected in the recent run of
elections in the world?
.
Australians voted to remain our stalwart ally in Iraq. Afghanistan's voters
took their lives in their hands to blaze their trail to a democratic
government. Americans voted decisively to endorse our hopes rather than our
fears in Iraq. Ukrainian voters refused to let a corrupt regime backed by the
power of Russia's Putin deny them their democratic rights; they will most
likely assert their independence this weekend.
.
That will mark four straight victories for those we Wilsonian idealists
consider the good guys, with two to go next month in the future, Palestine
and
in Iraq. One election may be sensibly peaceful and the other bloodily
courageous, but our Iraqi commitment has strengthened the trend.
.
In 1940, Anne Morrow Lindbergh wrote a provocative apologia for fascism
titled
"The Wave of the Future." President Franklin Roosevelt answered those who
believed "that, for some unexplained reason, tyranny and slavery have become
the surging wave of the future - and that freedom is an ebbing tide. But we
Americans know that this is not true."
.
Less true now than ever. Once again, America and its allies ensure that
freedom
is the wave of the future.
.
See more of the world that matters - click here for home delivery of the
International Herald Tribune.
< < Back to Start of Article WASHINGTON I now admit to having expected the
war
in Iraq to be won in a matter of months, not years. Saddam Hussein's plan to
disperse his forces and conduct a murderous insurgency, abetted by his
terrorist allies, was a surprise.
.
This by no means suggests that President George W. Bush's decision to
overthrow
a dangerous despotism was a mistake. On the contrary, it was and is the right
war (against a genocidal maniac who was gaining strength) in the right place
(the Middle East cradle of terror) for the right purpose (to get the Arab
street out of the rut of hatred and onto a path to freedom).
.
In return for today's grudging concession of tactical misjudgment, however, I
claim this expectation: When and if we Americans discover hidden supplies of
germ weapons in Iraq or Syria, and as future confessions reveal the extent of
connections between Al Qaeda and Saddam, the legion of war critics will
forthrightly admit their certitude was misplaced.
.
But more to today's point is our difference of opinion about strategy: I
stand
with those who believe this war was right and that its sacrifices will be
justified by lives saved and tyranny diminished. I disagree with those who
opposed the pre-emptive fight from the start or who have lost heart when it
dragged on too long and are casting about for scapegoats.
.
Here are criteria to measure success or failure in the battle for democracy
in
the region and the struggles for freedom around the world:
.
First, will Iraq stay whole and its people free?
.
The present answer is: We'll see. The only debate in the United States now
seems to be about whether to raise the number of American troops there to
help
finish the job; only a small minority is calling for a pullout. We are
committed, as we should be, to success; so are the Iraqi Kurds; we'll see how
eager the Shiite majority is to end its long Sunni Baathist subjugation.
.
Next, has America's huge military engagement in the Middle East helped
produce
progress toward democracy in Muslim countries where monarchs and dictators
now
rule?
.
Signs are that the answer is yes. At a conference last week in Dubai, Gulf
states spoke openly of economic reform and a campaign against corruption,
which
must have worried oppressive theocrats in Iran. Egypt, Jordan and Morocco are
beginning to see glimmers of liberty's light, which embarrasses reactionary
Saudis and terrorist Syrians. The groundswell is felt in Asia, where populous
Indonesia and Malaysia are showing how Islamic nations can prosper by
combating
medieval fundamentalism.
.
On top of that, America's decision to stay the course after its overthrow of
Saddam - a financial backer of suicide bombers and hero of Palestinian
jihadists - has helped revivify the prospect of peace in the Holy Land after
the death of Arafat. Our military activism emboldened Israel to risk
withdrawal
from Gaza, and should encourage Palestinians to elect a rational state maker
next month.
.
A final criterion: Is our confidence in the desire of 20 million literate
Iraqis to live in relative liberty being reflected in the recent run of
elections in the world?
.
Australians voted to remain our stalwart ally in Iraq. Afghanistan's voters
took their lives in their hands to blaze their trail to a democratic
government. Americans voted decisively to endorse our hopes rather than our
fears in Iraq. Ukrainian voters refused to let a corrupt regime backed by the
power of Russia's Putin deny them their democratic rights; they will most
likely assert their independence this weekend.
.
That will mark four straight victories for those we Wilsonian idealists
consider the good guys, with two to go next month in the future, Palestine
and
in Iraq. One election may be sensibly peaceful and the other bloodily
courageous, but our Iraqi commitment has strengthened the trend.
.
In 1940, Anne Morrow Lindbergh wrote a provocative apologia for fascism
titled
"The Wave of the Future." President Franklin Roosevelt answered those who
believed "that, for some unexplained reason, tyranny and slavery have become
the surging wave of the future - and that freedom is an ebbing tide. But we
Americans know that this is not true."
.
Less true now than ever. Once again, America and its allies ensure that
freedom
is the wave of the future.
.WASHINGTON I now admit to having expected the war in Iraq to be won in a
matter of months, not years. Saddam Hussein's plan to disperse his forces and
conduct a murderous insurgency, abetted by his terrorist allies, was a
surprise.
.
This by no means suggests that President George W. Bush's decision to
overthrow
a dangerous despotism was a mistake. On the contrary, it was and is the right
war (against a genocidal maniac who was gaining strength) in the right place
(the Middle East cradle of terror) for the right purpose (to get the Arab
street out of the rut of hatred and onto a path to freedom).
.
In return for today's grudging concession of tactical misjudgment, however, I
claim this expectation: When and if we Americans discover hidden supplies of
germ weapons in Iraq or Syria, and as future confessions reveal the extent of
connections between Al Qaeda and Saddam, the legion of war critics will
forthrightly admit their certitude was misplaced.
.
But more to today's point is our difference of opinion about strategy: I
stand
with those who believe this war was right and that its sacrifices will be
justified by lives saved and tyranny diminished. I disagree with those who
opposed the pre-emptive fight from the start or who have lost heart when it
dragged on too long and are casting about for scapegoats.
.
Here are criteria to measure success or failure in the battle for democracy
in
the region and the struggles for freedom around the world:
.
First, will Iraq stay whole and its people free?
.
The present answer is: We'll see. The only debate in the United States now
seems to be about whether to raise the number of American troops there to
help
finish the job; only a small minority is calling for a pullout. We are
committed, as we should be, to success; so are the Iraqi Kurds; we'll see how
eager the Shiite majority is to end its long Sunni Baathist subjugation.
.
Next, has America's huge military engagement in the Middle East helped
produce
progress toward democracy in Muslim countries where monarchs and dictators
now
rule?
.
Signs are that the answer is yes. At a conference last week in Dubai, Gulf
states spoke openly of economic reform and a campaign against corruption,
which
must have worried oppressive theocrats in Iran. Egypt, Jordan and Morocco are
beginning to see glimmers of liberty's light, which embarrasses reactionary
Saudis and terrorist Syrians. The groundswell is felt in Asia, where populous
Indonesia and Malaysia are showing how Islamic nations can prosper by
combating
medieval fundamentalism.
.
On top of that, America's decision to stay the course after its overthrow of
Saddam - a financial backer of suicide bombers and hero of Palestinian
jihadists - has helped revivify the prospect of peace in the Holy Land after
the death of Arafat. Our military activism emboldened Israel to risk
withdrawal
from Gaza, and should encourage Palestinians to elect a rational state maker
next month.
.
A final criterion: Is our confidence in the desire of 20 million literate
Iraqis to live in relative liberty being reflected in the recent run of
elections in the world?
.
Australians voted to remain our stalwart ally in Iraq. Afghanistan's voters
took their lives in their hands to blaze their trail to a democratic
government. Americans voted decisively to endorse our hopes rather than our
fears in Iraq. Ukrainian voters refused to let a corrupt regime backed by the
power of Russia's Putin deny them their democratic rights; they will most
likely assert their independence this weekend.
.
That will mark four straight victories for those we Wilsonian idealists
consider the good guys, with two to go next month in the future, Palestine
and
in Iraq. One election may be sensibly peaceful and the other bloodily
courageous, but our Iraqi commitment has strengthened the trend.
.
In 1940, Anne Morrow Lindbergh wrote a provocative apologia for fascism
titled
"The Wave of the Future." President Franklin Roosevelt answered those who
believed "that, for some unexplained reason, tyranny and slavery have become
the surging wave of the future - and that freedom is an ebbing tide. But we
Americans know that this is not true."
.
Less true now than ever. Once again, America and its allies ensure that
freedom
is the wave of the future.
.WASHINGTON I now admit to having expected the war in Iraq to be won in a
matter of months, not years. Saddam Hussein's plan to disperse his forces and
conduct a murderous insurgency, abetted by his terrorist allies, was a
surprise.
.
This by no means suggests that President George W. Bush's decision to
overthrow
a dangerous despotism was a mistake. On the contrary, it was and is the right
war (against a genocidal maniac who was gaining strength) in the right place
(the Middle East cradle of terror) for the right purpose (to get the Arab
street out of the rut of hatred and onto a path to freedom).
.
In return for today's grudging concession of tactical misjudgment, however, I
claim this expectation: When and if we Americans discover hidden supplies of
germ weapons in Iraq or Syria, and as future confessions reveal the extent of
connections between Al Qaeda and Saddam, the legion of war critics will
forthrightly admit their certitude was misplaced.
.
But more to today's point is our difference of opinion about strategy: I
stand
with those who believe this war was right and that its sacrifices will be
justified by lives saved and tyranny diminished. I disagree with those who
opposed the pre-emptive fight from the start or who have lost heart when it
dragged on too long and are casting about for scapegoats.
.
Here are criteria to measure success or failure in the battle for democracy
in
the region and the struggles for freedom around the world:
.
First, will Iraq stay whole and its people free?
.
The present answer is: We'll see. The only debate in the United States now
seems to be about whether to raise the number of American troops there to
help
finish the job; only a small minority is calling for a pullout. We are
committed, as we should be, to success; so are the Iraqi Kurds; we'll see how
eager the Shiite majority is to end its long Sunni Baathist subjugation.
.
Next, has America's huge military engagement in the Middle East helped
produce
progress toward democracy in Muslim countries where monarchs and dictators
now
rule?
.
Signs are that the answer is yes. At a conference last week in Dubai, Gulf
states spoke openly of economic reform and a campaign against corruption,
which
must have worried oppressive theocrats in Iran. Egypt, Jordan and Morocco are
beginning to see glimmers of liberty's light, which embarrasses reactionary
Saudis and terrorist Syrians. The groundswell is felt in Asia, where populous
Indonesia and Malaysia are showing how Islamic nations can prosper by
combating
medieval fundamentalism.
.
On top of that, America's decision to stay the course after its overthrow of
Saddam - a financial backer of suicide bombers and hero of Palestinian
jihadists - has helped revivify the prospect of peace in the Holy Land after
the death of Arafat. Our military activism emboldened Israel to risk
withdrawal
from Gaza, and should encourage Palestinians to elect a rational state maker
next month.
.
A final criterion: Is our confidence in the desire of 20 million literate
Iraqis to live in relative liberty being reflected in the recent run of
elections in the world?
.
Australians voted to remain our stalwart ally in Iraq. Afghanistan's voters
took their lives in their hands to blaze their trail to a democratic
government. Americans voted decisively to endorse our hopes rather than our
fears in Iraq. Ukrainian voters refused to let a corrupt regime backed by the
power of Russia's Putin deny them their democratic rights; they will most
likely assert their independence this weekend.
.
That will mark four straight victories for those we Wilsonian idealists
consider the good guys, with two to go next month in the future, Palestine
and
in Iraq. One election may be sensibly peaceful and the other bloodily
courageous, but our Iraqi commitment has strengthened the trend.
.
In 1940, Anne Morrow Lindbergh wrote a provocative apologia for fascism
titled
"The Wave of the Future." President Franklin Roosevelt answered those who
believed "that, for some unexplained reason, tyranny and slavery have become
the surging wave of the future - and that freedom is an ebbing tide. But we
Americans know that this is not true."
.
Less true now than ever. Once again, America and its allies ensure that
freedom
is the wave of the future.
.
When the dog catches its tail it was chasing
and chews it off then it will understand!
Tangents are infinite in all of nature in
all universes constantly and at random.
* D OUOSVAVV M *
*PUBLIUS ENIGMA*
Oh Joy!
Tom
The Psychedelic Pope
Patron Saint of the Internet
http://www.apple2.org.za/gswv/me/
.
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