John Podhoretz believes the president’s speech last night was not only powerful but of “world-historical import” and, along with his West Point speech of last May outlining the preemption doctrine and his speech last September throwing down the gauntlet to the UN, signs of a radical reshaping of the world order. Not only have we completed the circle began on 9/11 and started to turn the tide against terrorism, but we have changed the focus of our entire foreign policy:
The spread of liberty throughout the world, the president suggested, should be a foreign-policy priority of the United States: “American values and American interests lead in the same direction: We stand for human liberty.”
A very interesting analysis and one I partially share. Clearly, we have learned that we have to take bold action to prevent another 9/11 and, contrary to the fears of many, that does not just mean fighting wars with everyone who might become our enemy but changing the circumstances of people who might grow up to be terrorists. The problem, though, is the sheer magnitude of the task. Even with our vast wealth and military superiority, we lack the resources to change the planet one country at a time.
(Hat tip: RealClear Politics)
