When he took the nation’s highest office, George W. Bush famously called himself a uniter, not a divider, signaling a kinder, gentler approach to Washington politics. Fat lot of good it did him. He faces opponents who offer no quarter, even when the national interest is at stake. It is well past time to take off the gloves and return fire.
We are at war and the President and his administration must vigorously defend our war effort and attack those who would have us retreat and lose. Dissent may be patriotic, as those whose ability to dissent seems to be their only component of patriotism; but encouraging our enemies to win is not dissent. It should be an administration free-fire zone to take on those who urge retreat.
And I don't care if they cry "suppression of speech!" Pointing out their errors, the logical consequences of their suggestions, or the identity of those they stand with proudly is not suppressing speech--it is that "debate" thing they claim they want so much. Go after them:
President Bush needs to stand up on this war and defend it as the just and good war it is. Just as important, he has to stop treating his most extreme anti-war opponents as if they deserve respect. They deserve only comtempt. Go after their positions. Remind the American people of who they stand with. Highlight who we stand with and what they try to build with our help. Remind our people of the soldiers and Marines who have given their lives as heroes so that others might live free and so that we might live in safety. Proudly proclaim that we are on the right side of history and that we must win this war. Don't be ashamed of being right! To Hell with Wilson and the media that pretends he tells the truth.
If the war opponents get rightfully too ashamed to defend their positions, that is not suppression of dissent. That's a guilty conscience kicking in at long last. Or perhaps I hope for too much. But given the three-year screech-fest that the anti-war side has engaged in over Iraq, I'd settle for their pausing to draw breath now and again.
Your troops are fighting and dying to defend us, Mr. President. You owe it to them to engage the advocates of defeat here at home and give them no quarter. And if it makes you feel better, they won't give you quarter if you falter.
