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| Afghanistan |
| Arabs don't want wider war against terror |
| 2001-10-02 |
There has been a debate within the administration about how to proceed and, thankfully, Colin Powell and some others have been able to prevail -- for now -- over the hotter heads in the Defense Department. The Powell strategy has gained the crucial support of Vice President Dick Cheney, who understands that key allies such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt will not go along with a wider war against all terrorism instead of a campaign targeted against al Qaeda. Living close to the enemy, the Saudis and Egyptians know just how complex the battle against al Qaeda will be. It was inevitable that the sensible strategy would win out. When America faces a real crisis or enemy, fantasy foreign policies collapse and reality intrudes. You see a similar pattern in our relations with China. In the absence of a crisis, Americans have a fiery hothouse debate over just how we are going to overthrow the evil butchers of Beijing. And then something like the airplane crisis in Hainan takes place and the administration follows a sober course. In the first six months the Bush administration fired off in several unilateral directions, annoying countries around the world. Now a crisis is upon us and this very team is paying America's U.N. dues, taking matters to the United Nations, telling Russia that we understand its situation in Chechnya, forgiving Pakistan for its nuclear explosions and even finding a kind word for the Iranian mullahs. |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |