Expedient Politician vs. World-Class Leader
Two quotes to consider following the capture of Saddam Hussein:
From Howard Dean, the politician whose candidacy has been fueled by his opposition to the war against terror and who flip-flops on issue after issue: "This is a great day for the Iraqi people, the US, and the international community. Our troops are to be congratulated on carrying out this mission with the skill and dedication we have come to know of them."
From President George W. Bush, the statesman who has had the courage to make the difficult decisions that Dean would not have made in order to do what's right:
"The capture of this man was crucial to the rise of a free Iraq. It marks the end of the road for him, and for all who bullied and killed in his name. For the Baathist holdouts largely responsible for the current violence, there will be no return to the corrupt power and privilege they once held. For the vast majority of Iraqi citizens who wish to live as free men and women, this event brings further assurance that the torture chambers and the secret police are gone forever.
"And this afternoon, I have a message for the Iraqi people: You will not have to fear the rule of Saddam Hussein ever again. All Iraqis who take the side of freedom have taken the winning side. The goals of our coalition are the same as your goals -- sovereignty for your country, dignity for your great culture, and for every Iraqi citizen, the opportunity for a better life.
"In the history of Iraq, a dark and painful era is over. A hopeful day has arrived. All Iraqis can now come together and reject violence and build a new Iraq.
"The success of yesterday's mission is a tribute to our men and women now serving in Iraq. The operation was based on the superb work of intelligence analysts who found the dictator's footprints in a vast country. The operation was carried out with skill and precision by a brave fighting force. Our servicemen and women and our coalition allies have faced many dangers in the hunt for members of the fallen regime, and in their effort to bring hope and freedom to the Iraqi people. Their work continues, and so do the risks. Today, on behalf of the nation, I thank the members of our Armed Forces and I congratulate them.
"I also have a message for all Americans: The capture of Saddam Hussein does not mean the end of violence in Iraq. We still face terrorists who would rather go on killing the innocent than accept the rise of liberty in the heart of the Middle East. Such men are a direct threat to the American people, and they will be defeated.
"We've come to this moment through patience and resolve and focused action. And that is our strategy moving forward. The war on terror is a different kind of war, waged capture by capture, cell by cell, and victory by victory. Our security is assured by our perseverance and by our sure belief in the success of liberty. And the United States of America will not relent until this war is won."
It's going to be instructive to see the smug former Governor of Vermont demonstrate his agility on this issue in the days to come.
Nice to see such even handed
Nice to see such even handed writing.
A question-Why do many Republicans find it easier to name call and launch cheap personal attacks rather than debate the merit of the person's policies?
As an opponent of a US pre-emptive invasion of Iraq, I along with every other thinking person out there, never thought Saddam was a good guy. We knew he was a cruel, murderous dictator.
Yet we also knew he was a toothless dictator, who didn't pose a threat to his neighbors or to the US. He was a minor threat. As threats go, former GW Bush envoy Anthony Zinni stated that Iraq was number "7 or 8" as far as threats go. The key was at what cost was war the best option to take him out. Inspections were working. Was war the best choice to deal with the "threat" of Hussein? [Remember, the case for going to war was not regime change, it was WMD]
More pressing concerns were Al Qaeda, solving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, WMD getting in the hands of terrorists [mostly from unguarded stockpiles from the former Soviet Republics], etc.
You see where I'm going. Saddam's capture is a good thing. The Iraqi people are better off. Hopefully attacks on US troops will lessen and we can get them home quickly. But are Americans safer from this selective war? Many intelligence experts and military personnel will say no. In fact, many will say Americans are LESS safe because of Bush's policies. "World Class Leader"? I don't think so. Being a leader means recognizing and dealing with real threats to the safety and security of US citizens. While a small minority of hawks think taking out Saddam was central to the war on terror, most people can recognize real threats when the fearmongering and hyperbole ceases.
You can frame the debate anyway you wish. It's your column. Yet readers can decide who is an expedient pol and who the real leader is without much help.