Define the current condition of the Presidency as you will, but there is a leadership void. This is an administration in a time of war. But it still cannot talk straight about the nature of the enemy. Compare what the President and Condi say versus what Truman would have said.
And make no mistake about it, this war, however different it is from conventional war, is a "world war."
I don't know what you mean by that. Bush has defined the enemy qute well it seems to me.
Compare what the President and Condi say versus what Truman would have said.
Truman refused to recognize and deal with the true enemy in Korea, China. He even fired MacAurthur because the General did understand and did want to do somethng about it. Your knowledge of that era seems a little cloudy. Truman gets far more credit than he deserves.
No argument about a problem. I wouldn't define it as a leadership problem and I respectfully disagree with you.
The war in Iraq isn't under one man's control, not one party's control, either here or in Iraq. All Bush and our military can do is their best. I think that they are doing their best, though the armchair quarterbacks are positive that if THEY had their way, the war would be won. That is pure speculation. War is just not so predictable and pat.
The gas prices are also not under one man's control or one party's control. Despite the bloviating of O'Reilly petroleum isn't such a simple commodity that even American petroleum companies can control.
Gas for cars is only ONE use for petroleum. It's also used for all fuels, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, pest control, plastics....a myriad of uses. Everyone on the planet uses petrochemicals in one form or another and it is thus simply not that easy to define. Also, it's a resource that will disappear.
It's a most special kind of commodity, VERY dangerous and speculative to find, get and refine. Explosions and fires are common even with the strictest rules. It's amazing.
My ex and I worked in Saudi Arabia with ARAMCO for five long years and we learned a lot about the business. It's a HUGE, complex business got into by the few, the brave and sometimes and the very rich (or the very busteroo-ed).
And, since you admit that it is a world war (I agree.) the leadership quality is REALLY not one president's or one party's job. Not even we can FORCE other nations to do what we want. We can't always bribe them, threaten them or punish them either.
Finally, when it comes to petroleum, you have to put the Saudis in the mix since they have 200 years MORE of oil reserves, 200 billion barrels, so far.
When you put THEM into the mix, with OUR needs, you must add Israel, our Achilles heel. Just ask Usama bin Laden why he hates America so much. His number two reason is our foreign policy towards Israel (weapons, money, training, foreign aid and, probably the "worst," as far as UBL is concerned, our moral support).
Speculating on what Truman might have said is hindsight. Hindsight is a waste of time. Say what you will about Bush and Condi, they have done a heck of a job. Rather them than Clinton, Kerry, Dean or any other Democrat around today. We have who we have.
My read is that as soon as GAS PRICES drop people will put Iraq, UBL, Saudi Arabia and the rest of the world problems in the kitchen drawer, watch football and go Christmas shopping.