Lugar making sense (5/27/03)

Richard Lugar is talking sense.

But is George W. Bush listening?

From the outset, Sen. Lugar has made it clear that his questions didn't involve whether or how the U.S. military would achieve success over the forces of Saddam Hussein, but what would happen next.

And now, those questions are at the top of America's agenda.

In remarks at commencement exercises and in a recent piece in The Washington Post, the senior senator from Indiana has laid out his concerns.

He pulls no punches.

"The days when Americans could win battles and then come home quickly for a parade are over," the senator wrote for the Post.

In other words, that little thing called "nation building," which candidate Bush made light of, has proved to be a very important thing for this nation's future. Unless we're prepared to help struggling nations find their way to civil order and a measure of democracy, we can expect to reap the whirlwind of those countries’ internal discord.

In Iraq, it's not going to be easy. Proud as we were to see the speed with which military objectives were achieved, the real measure of success will come in the weeks and months to come as we do, indeed, build a new nation there.

To do otherwise would be incredibly foolish after all the dollars and lives that have been spent.

Or, as Sen. Lugar puts it, "It would be irresponsible — and contrary to our own national security interests — to walk away from Iraq before it becomes a dependable member of the world community. We would provide an incubator for terrorist cells and activity."

Well said.

President Bush, are you listening? — J.R.[[In-content Ad]]