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Old 02-15-2004, 03:36 PM
Oklahoma Joe
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Default It's Bush vs. Kerry

Brandt Ayers: It's Bush vs. Kerry

At the end of his Meet the Press interview, President Bush framed the main
campaign issue in terms that make this the most important election since the
end of World War II.

The foremost issue, he said, is, “Who can properly use American power in a
way to make the world a better place, who understands times are changing and
how best to have policy reflect those times.”

It was a succinct restatement of the theoretical beliefs held by his tight
group of advisers, led by Vice President Dick Cheney, that America can shape
a disorderly world by force of arms — alone, if others disagree.

The consensus Democratic candidate, Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry, rejects
this notion of a frightening new world held in check by American armies and
missiles.

As a first act of a Kerry presidency, he says would be to signal that the
United States is ready to resume its role as leader of an alliance of
democracies, one divided by Bush’s hasty, go-it-alone belligerence.

By November the country will have to decide whether the nation’s character
and personality will change from the traditional friendly, strong, patient
leader of nations or become aloof, suspicious, quick to fight.

And which sets of knowledge, experience and temperament will the nation
decide it wants in the Oval center of world affairs?

We know George Bush fairly well. He comes off as a regular fellow, a nice
man with a sweet, pretty wife. He’s the kind of person you’d want to have as
Neighbor In Chief. But Commander In Chief?

After his interview with Tim Russert, I happened on British Prime Minister
Tony Blair also fielding questions on live TV about his Iraq War policies
from 13 chairmen of Parliamentary committees.

The two should never appear together on live TV. Blair was sharp, witty, in
command of the facts, demonstrating for instance that he had read the
entirety of Chief Arms Inspector David Kay’s report.

Tony Blair consistently conveys an understanding of how the world is
ordered, the moral and legal foundations underlying its structure, and what
stance Britain should take in light of current circumstances.

Amiable, inarticulate, often contradictory George Bush is no match for
Blair, but in his NBC interview he did succeed in getting across how he
would confront a crisis similar to Iraq in the future.

As a New York Times editorial put it, “In a dangerous world the critical
thing is to act decisively, and worry about connecting the dots later.”In
other words, shoot first and ask questions later.

The Cheney-Bush White House has thoroughly demonstrated it has an itchy
trigger finger, and knows how to pull it. Invading Iraq came up in the very
first National Security Council meeting — long before 9/11.

George Bush and his team are yet to prove they can heal painful divisions
and return an isolated enemy to normal relations with the world. John Kerry
did that by resolving the Vietnamese POW issue.

By using delicate, patient diplomacy — reaching out to a Republican and
fellow Vietnam veteran John McCain — Kerry helped heal the psychic wounds of
war, making a place for Vietnam in the family of nations.

The candidates are chosen and the issue is joined.

Will Cheney and Bush continue to redefine America as a nation so strong, so
self-sufficient that it does not need friends, an arrogant Imperial Power
whose will must be obeyed — or else?

Or will we link arms again with our former friends and comrades in arms,
recreating again the concert of democracies that won a Cold War with the
power of its ideals, backed by an irresistible military alliance?

Patriots of my generation hope the balance of idealism and strength that has
led willing democracies so well for 60 years will not be lost. To us, this
is the election of a lifetime.

http://www.annistonstar.com/opinion/...-4b13q4923.htm
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