CURIOUS TIME
.I find it dificult to recall a time when we, as a nation, have been in such a strange
situation . Give it a moment of special consideration.
We are a nation “at war” against Terrorism. Our enemy, once again, a multi-faced group
Some of those who oppose us are mere shadows and cannot be readily singled out as nations.
There is a disturbing undercurrent involving religion which is, to me,the true danger we must
ultimately face.
President George W. Bush has been doing what is expected of our president in time
of war. He has been actively speaking to remind us that we are in such a national state
of emergency. That, oddly enough, is a point the Congress seems all too ready to ignore
overlook in it while eagerly seeking partisan entrenchment during a time of urgency.
Keeping the nation alert has been made a presidential function by a Congress in default
which is more concerned with the next election than with the conduct of a vague,
unpredictable war situation
Because of the complex make up of our “enemy”, President Bush has dealt with
one of the more obvious threats to our well-bring - Saddam Huessien and the potential
threat from Iraq. Along with a politically based refusal to see what he is doing in a
rhetorical sense, many say he has overdone the Saddam theme.
I don’t feel that he has feel exceeded logical bounds at all. The previously known
enemy of our is one the general public can see as a real threat and dwelling on the Iraq
question has been one way of keeping national attention alive concerning the war in
which we are now engaged. It is obvious that President Bush will lose much of his present
popularity with the American public as long as he insists on this emphasis on Iraq. World
opinion is against his plans to invade Iraq. The media is making much of these refusals of
foreign powers to back Bush’s stated intentions in regard to Iraq. Oddly enough we are
also aware of the fact that foreign leaders, such as Prime Minister Tony Blair of Great
Britain who has been quoted as saying: George Bush “operates on security issues in a
calm, sensible and measured way.” Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher has recently
said: “This is no time to go wobbly, George.”
President Bush has, this week, shown signs of - not “backing off”, as much of the
media suggests - but rather of letting it be known that he fully intends to ask the
approval of Congress and of the UN Security Council for whatever he plans to undertake.
This action reinforces his views and puts a traditional stamp on his theme.
The nation will feel better about it all.
A.L.M. September 4, 2002 [c475wds]
