I applaud One War at a Time, your tribute to President Lincoln's wise management of foreign policy during the Civil War. Throughout the escalation into this misadventure in Iraq, I could not help but make comparisons between the Lincoln and Bush Administrations.
Our 'shock and awe' for the citizens of Baghdad, tactically, reminds me too much of bin Laden's 'shock and awe' for the citizens of New York. The choice between the terrorists and us, for the rest of the world, is not as clear as I would like it to be. President Lincoln, I am certain, would have demonstrated the clearest possible distinction. I borrow a quote of Lincoln's from your book.
"... the Founding Fathers 'meant to set up a standard maxim for a free society which could be... constantly spreading and deepening its influence and augmenting the happiness and value of life to people of all colors everywhere."
The present crisis requires a leader with Lincoln's breadth of view. But, perhaps, it is not meant to be. Perhaps American power must be de-legitimized - that we must be exposed as too immature to be trusted with this kind of power - in order to pave the way for the emergence of a truly representative and sovereign United Nations capable of 'augmenting the happiness and value of life to people of all colors everywhere.'
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