Just read an article by Michael Kinsley at MSNBC.com. Kinsley traces the enormous power that George W. Bush has taken to the Presidency. In summing up he says, "Putting all this together, Bush is asserting the right of the United States to attack any country that may be a threat to it in five years. And the right of the United States to evaluate that risk and respond in its sole discretion. And the right of the president to make that decision on behalf of the United States in his sole discretion. In short, the president can start a war against anyone at any time, and no one has the right to stop him."
Is Kinsley correct? Could President Bush appear on TV tomorrow and said, "My fellow Americans, I believe that Syria (or Laos, or Cameroon, or France, or North Korea) could in the future pose a threat to the United States, so I have decided that we must invade the country?" Has the precedent been set?
Could we find ourself in a state of constant warfare, as President Bush hops from country to country seeking out evil doers?
Given the enormous powers President Bush has taken to himself, and the necessary focus required to fight the war on Terrorism, I propose that President Bush should step down at the end of his term. That will enable him to focus his attention on the war on terror and on Iraq, and will make it clear that he did not seek this power for himself, but to protect the nation.
No comments:
Post a Comment