AMERICA'S WAR ON TERROR -- AND HISTORY

WASHINGTON -- The Bush administration's declaration, "The National Security Strategy of the United States," stands as one of the more amazing, depressing and self-deluding documents ever written by the governors of the land of the free and the home of the brave. It is, in fact, too American by half, reading more like the warning cry of crazed missionaries than the reasoned or tolerant arguments of a free and democratic people.
The 33 pages submitted to Congress last Friday should be read to music: Onward American soldiers, marching as to war! We will save the world whether it wants to be saved or not, and those who will not be saved will be destroyed in the fires of new technologies. It seems that we are a beleaguered people, surrounded by an encroaching jungle of danger, persecuted from all sides for our goodness, our decency, our generosity. Or, to be more precise, we are better than other people, and they will become like us -- or else.

It is hard to imagine these pages of the national strategy were written inside the comfortable walls of the White House in this sunny capital. The Cold War, it seems, has passed, and things are even worse now with thunder crashing around the world as evildoers gather in the darkness at our borders. It is not the strategies and policies of the document that I find so amazing. It is the tone, or as younger people might say, "the attitude," that is so disturbing, and in some ways, so foreign.

Are we really so afraid of everyone else? Do we no longer believe that it is morning in America?

Here are some of the thoughts and words from the final draft of the document, which says, among other absurdities, that nationalism is internationalism and victory is defeat:

"The United States' national security strategy will be based on a distinctly American internationalism that reflects the union of our values and our national interests. The aim of this strategy is to help make the world not just safer but better ...

"We are menaced less by fleets and armies than by catastrophic technologies in the hands of the embittered few. We must defeat these threats to our nation, allies and friends ...

"Today, humanity holds in its hands the opportunity to further freedom's triumph over all these foes. The United States welcomes our responsibility to lead in this great mission ...

"By making the world safer, we allow the people of the world to make their own lives better. We will defend this just peace against threats from terrorists and tyrants ...