Let the Professionals Nominate

I have become a Bill Clinton fan. His return to the White House, as First Spouse, would signal a welcome revival of competence to the Executive Branch. However, like President Reagan, another competent Chief Executive, President Clinton made several grievous errors. Unlike Reagan, whose mistakes were fueled by Ideology, Clinton's mistakes were driven by Expediency.

I will focus on two tragic expedient decisions: 1) the cruise missile attack on Sudan, and 2) signing the Iraq Liberation Act.

In 1997, the Sudanese were tiring of their political and economic isolation. They had gone about as far as they could on alms from Osama bin Laden. They were looking for a bigger alms-giver and began working back channels to the Clinton Administration. They were willing to turn Osama over to us. These diplomatic feelers were rebuffed. We can never know whether the Sudanese were serious. President Clinton chose cruise missiles over diplomacy. One suspects he needed a pyro-technic display to divert attention away from the sex scandal.

(This, in no way, excuses the Republican Congress for the lurid pursuit of impeachment as al Qaeda strengthened. At least President Clinton had his eye on the ball. Meawhile, the Republicans could not take their eyes off his balls.)

General Anthony Zinni urged President Clinton to veto the Iraq Liberation Act of 1998. General Zinni clearly foresaw that the neo-Conservative warmongers would later cite that Act as evidence of bi-partisan commitment to topple Saddam. For the warmongers, Clinton's signature was the keystone in their propaganda war, justifying their sick doctrine of pre-emption. President Clinton listened patiently to General Zinni, then disregarded the advice. He chose to kick that can down the road rather than face down the neo-con lunatics.

Senator Clinton's vote to authorize the war is just one more instance of Clinton-style political expediency. Cold analysis of strategic reality fell victim to political triangulation. She must appear tough at all costs, no matter how foolish the policy. Or tragic the consequences. We can expect more of this sort of Expediency if Mrs. Clinton achieves the Presidency.

All of these concerns pale in comparison to the opportunity cost of nominating Senator Clinton. If the nomination were in the hands of the professionals, as in the good ol' days, the ticket would be Gore/Obama. Though I am not terribly enthusiastic about Al Gore, the simple fact is that such a ticket might get 60% of the vote against any Republican ticket. Such a landslide would marginalize the right wing loonies for two or three decades. They are a pestilence. We must innoculate ourselves from them if we want to reverse ourselves in the War on Terror and start winning. (Jim Webb as Secretary of Defense, Anthony Zinni as head of the National Security Council, and Richard Holbrooke as Secretary of State would be huge strides in the right direction.)

If the Democrats fail to seize this opportunity, they must be accounted part of the disease and not the cure.