NYT: The Wimps of War

[Steve Schear]

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By PAUL KRUGMAN

George W. Bush's admirers often describe his stand against Saddam Hussein as "Churchillian." Yet his speeches about Iraq  and for that matter about everything else  have been notably lacking in promises of blood, toil, tears and sweat. Has there ever before been a leader who combined so much martial rhetoric with so few calls for sacrifice?

Or to put it a bit differently: Is Mr. Bush, for all his tough talk, unwilling to admit that going to war involves some hard choices? Unfortunately, that would be all too consistent with his governing style. And though you don't hear much about it in the U.S. media, a lack of faith in Mr. Bush's staying power  a fear that he will wimp out in the aftermath of war, that he won't do what is needed to rebuild Iraq  is a large factor in the growing rift between Europe and the United States.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/02/11/opinion/11KRUG.html


"Reality must take precedence over public relations, for nature cannot be fooled."
-- Richard P. Feynman