The bottomless wells of escape hatches

Alan Nathan:

Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry's quest for accountability seems like a vampire's search for a sunny day — not truly desired. Whenever asked why he refused to support President Bush's requested $87 billion in order to fund the very war resolution for which he voted, he repeatedly argues that war should be waged "only as a last resort" or "only after exhausting all diplomatic means."
He contends that Mr. Bush was first expected to achieve these points of criteria before taking us into conflict against Iraq. Sounds reasonable up to where he stops. Unfortunately, he has never said when it becomes a last resort or when diplomatic means are exhausted. If there is no point of finality attached to a last chance given, it then becomes just another chance resulting in no opposition of consequence against the enemy. Instead, we have ensured that no matter how frequent or egregious the violation, permanently locked into place is our excuse never to hold the enemy to account. They commit an infraction — "it's cool, have another resort"; they inflict again — "no sweat, help yourself to some more diplomatic means." These arguments are bottomless wells of escape hatches designed to ensure indefinite avoidance from said point of finality. While this is very much in keeping with the U.N. posture of inertia, it's sadly not very presidential. In short, while leaders must allow themselves options, among them should never be the right to abandon tough choices linked to conclusions.


Where exactly is Kerry's last resort--probably some snow boarding place.

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