The Middle East has been a violent place for a long time; for at least the last 40 – 50 years or so. American policy has been to try and make the different factions there ‘get along’ with each other. America’s stance in regards to the different violent groups like the Palestinians, Hamas and Hezbollah – or even the countries that support them like Syria and Iran – has typically been to accept at face value their claims of peace, despite any evidence to the contrary.

The Bush Doctrine has changed all of that, and it’s about damn time. The Bush Doctrine can be summarized this way:

1. Unilateralism can replace multilateralism, when preventive war is required to protect American interests and those of allies;
2. The role of the United Nations is de facto considerably reduced;
3. International conflicts can be resolved through the use of military force, when diplomacy fails;
4. The result would be the advent of a ‘Pax Americana’;
5. End of the policy of nuclear mutual deterrence;
6. Initiation of a worldwide spread of liberty and democracy;
7. Pursuit of a policy of American military supremacy;
8. Introduction of the ideology of moral absolutism in American interventions abroad;
9. Nations are to be ranked according to American standards;
10. Active promotion of American economic interests around the world.

I believe that it may take a few more years before Bush is heralded as one of our best presidents, but that the day will come to pass when he is recognized to be just that. He has taken the leadership role in confronting the terror menace, and I for one will never forget that.

Joe
Boise, Idaho