Posted on 01/31/2006 10:47:17 PM PST by TomAdkinsCC
The Greatest Challenge In History- Free The world.
Tom Adkins
The sniping has started. The bickering has begun. And over the coming months, we will debate the agenda of President George W. Bush’s last two years, laid out in the State of the Union address last night.
For the most part, the speech was rather pedestrian. He suggested America stay economically engaged, opening up free markets across the world. Good. He told us we were addicted to oil, and we should find alternative sources of energy. Easy one. He offered general platitudes about health care. Softball. He asked to make tax cuts permanent. Classic. And he insisted we re-up the patriot act. No brainer, except to the brainless. And of course, he asked America to help the world fight disease, encourage economic progress, and “spread hope in hopeless lands.” Textbook. It was the speech of a man who knows his presidency is almost over, and has a few precious years to accomplish a few things.
With one notable exception.
To those who paid attention, Bush offered something startling. Bold. New. And unabashedly different than from anything in American history. George Bush demanded the United States of America and all free nations take on the world’s dictators and turn them into democracies. Actively. As in, “Abroad, our Nation is committed to an historic, long-term goal - we seek the end of tyranny in our world.”
Hmmm.
Read between the lines in the rest of the speech, and the direction is clear. He slyly reminded us of World War Two. That we are offensively taking on terrorists right now. And the future? “…Liberty is the future of every nation in the Middle East…”
At a time when freed allies have become forgetfully spoiled and coddled by American sacrifice, protection and good graces, George Bush is insisting that it is our duty and responsibility to spread democracy. President Bush wants to take out the bad guys and free the oppressed people. With whatever it takes. Shades of gunboat diplomacy.
While Americans have historically and repeatedly assisted allies at risk or under attack, we have been generally reluctant to conduct expeditions and crusades. No longer. For the first time, in Iraq, an American President took pre-emptive action against an enemy. Now, in this State Of The Union speech, George Bush is flexing up for the other troublemakers. And he’s demanding those lazy nations waddling in their smug cocoons (usually provided by America blood, guts and money) to saddle up. Why? First, because it is our duty. Second, because Bush has made an inarguable strategic observation: it’s smarter to kill an enemy today, on his turf, than to perpetually be in defense against the enemy on your turf. Whether it’s politics, war or football, if you refuse to play offense, the other guy eventually scores.
Of course, there are many predictable reactions. The New York Times will offer their baying hounds, crying that we have no business interfering into any other nation’s business. (Unless a Democrat President wants to conduct war in, say Kosovo, or perhaps the Tonkin Gulf) Then again, many old-school conservatives and some libertarians are inherently anti-meddling. We will certainly hear from the dictators themselves, of course, ranging from the silly insults from North Korean dictator Kim Jong Il to the apocalyptic rantings of Iran’s Mahmud Ahmadi-nejad. American Democrats, devoid of any notable leadership, will continue to loudly undermine this war, pandering to shake dollars from their deluded donors. And those haughty Europeans will harrumph in that patented cynical smirk.
Funny…they all had the same reaction when President Ronald Reagan demanded “Mr Gorbachev, tear down this wall!!!”
But George W. Bush, the clumsy speaker, the stumbling, bumbling politician, didn’t settle for tearing down a wall, going to the moon or feeling our pain. Instead, he is asking for the boldest challenge in global history: demanding every free nation join to eliminate the oppressive governments across the globe and spread freedom everywhere.
Now that is big.
And he’s offered the classic Teddy Roosevelt strategy: speak softly and carry a big stick. Except in this day and age, even a whisper by an American President becomes a roar heard ‘round the world.
Well, listen up, folks. Finally, we have an American President who see the world accurately, understands our power and position, and recognizes the opportunity to make the world a far better place. And for once, a leader with the guts to hunt down the bad guys. And whack 'em with that big stick.
That is an interesting article, but to lay the demise of the Empire solely on taxation requires a certain tunnel vision. The Eastern Empire survived the West for another thousand years, with essentially the same system of taxation. One reads of similar abuses by the tax merchants there hundreds of years after the fall of Rome. Why didn't Constantinople break down at the same time? I don't know the answer, but I don't think the authors of this article do, either. The productivity of the Western Empire suffered a cataclysmic breakdown at some point, but I doubt it was solely the responsibility of taxation. Predatory tribal migrations that could not be stopped no matter how strong the Roman defenses were developed - and they became very sophisticated - is a more likely answer.
Situationally, I beg to differ.
If the neighbor is in the act of threatening your family, the stick is pointed and you make sure it penetrates into the brain cavity - - - -
Very much within the realm of best self interest.
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