HIGH NOON

Most of us recall the western classic, “High Noon.” The sheriff (Gary Cooper) is about to leave office just when a gang of toughs ride into town. He could leave but he waits to face the killers. All his friends and all the townspeople who supported him during his years of keeping them safe, slowly abandon him. In the end, he walks alone to meet the killers because someone had to.

George Bush’s strength and character were reflected in a 20 minute speech of Jan/07 that announced a new initiative designed to win in Iraq. He had no support for that decision, not State, not the Pentagon, not Congress, not the foreign policy establishment, not the Joint Chiefs, not Gen Casey, not Centcom commander Abizaid, not Condy Rice. Yet that day the President wasn’t looking for affirmation. He knew what was right, what had to be done and he did it because someone had to.

This makes this decision a profile in courage. As Charles Krauthammer reminds us, “The surge...effected the most dramatic change in the fortunes of an American war since the summer of 1864.”

A year ago we praised Bush for his decency and his dedication to his country. We re-visit that topic this pm. Those that continue to demonize Bush and in Pavlovian fashion condemn his presidency demonstrate a lack of scholarship, a weak hold on reality. What they do illustrate is a matter of association and party sympathy, not reasoning and examination. They diminish themselves, not Bush, in the process. In trying to belittle him, they merely reveal their own littleness.

Bush kept us al Qaeda-free for 8 years (9, now that Obama has adopted the Bush security apparatus wholesale). Here in Marin the lefties who are protected from dangers, simply conclude that there are no dangers. And of course they were the most hysterical over interception of phone calls, the other efforts to thwart slaughter. Hysterical yes, even though they were the beneficiaries. This second great achievement then is also the number one function of government - to protect its citizens. Nobody on 9/11/01 believed there would not be another such attack on American soil. Thank you Sir.

Finally, when we consider the Bush administration juxtaposed aside that of Obama, it is no wonder so many have come to reconsider the leadership of this fine man, just as they did the administration of Truman, and Truman the man and for similar reasons.

We yearn do we not for the corruption free, honest Bush governance? And we are grateful for the end of nuclear processing in Libya, for Dr. Khan shut down, for Syrians out of Lebanon, for pro-US governments in Europe, good relations with China and India, the miraculous act of strengthening relations with east Asian democracies without upsetting the Chinese, two good Supreme Court judges, unswerving support for Israel, the Medicare prescription drug benefit, and finally the universally acclaimed world AID’s initiative.

Yet it is not these but the courage of decision making for which George Bush will be remembered. Equipped with a moral compass he exercised his just and rightful authority in a way that deserves every American’s recognition and respect.

He defiantly did the right thing. That is what distinguishes his presidency.



Robert Craven