THE WAR NOW: Bush continues to surprise. The $300 million food drop into Afghanistan gives a whole new meaning to compassionate conservatism. I must say I'm cautiously impressed. If this stage in the campaign is designed to foster as broad a coalition for the destruction of al Qaeda and the Taliban, so far so good. If these actions are designed to minimize domestic and foreign opposition while preparing for a major and relentless attack on terrorism, so much the better. If Bush is handing over our foreign policy to Colin Powell now for the important task of diplomacy prior to a systematic campaign to wipe out terrorism and the states that still sponsor it, better still. But there's a chance that something else is happening. There's a chance that Bush is simply taking a minimalist approach to this war, after a rhetorical fusillade. If all this amounts to is a few commando raids against bin Laden, if Saddam is allowed to stay and prepare yet another counter-attack, if Hamas and Hezbollah are left intact, if the Saudis are allowed to continue their policy of fostering extreme Islamo-fundamentalism, then this policy is worse than nothing at all. Anything less than a full-frontal assault on terrorism and terrorist-sponsoring states would be sending a clear signal to bin Laden and his ilk. That signal would be that, for all our bluster, we are not serious, that we can absorb and accept an act of war upon us with mere minor retaliation as a consequence. The terrorists will understand from this that they can strike again with relative impunity, and next time, make it even bigger. I worry every time I hear president Bush tell us to get back to normal. Normal is the last thing we should feel. What happened on September 11 was a brutal invasion of this country. There is no normality after it. The only thing that follows should be an extermination of the enemy in all its forms - relentlessly, constantly, insistently. No, I'm not for rushing into an unfocused action. I'm not for alienating any friendly state we can find. But everything - everything - must be subordinate to the ultimate goal of extinguishing the terrorism that threatens the United States and the West. I still believe this is what president Bush is aiming for. But there are some signs that he is going wobbly. I'm hoping and praying that those signs disappear soon. Whatever the dangers of action, the dangers of inaction are now far, far greater. I pray to God the president understands this - and doesn't let this unique opportunity slip between his fingers.

-- Anonymous, October 05, 2001

Answers

The author hasn't taken into account the ongoing build-up of troops in the M.E.

At this point, I don't believe that there will be just a little wrist slapping going on. I believe President Bush when he says that it will be a sustained campaign and such a campaign can't be mounted overnight, especially since the our last president put such a dent in our military troops and funding.

-- Anonymous, October 05, 2001

I think Meemur is absolutely right. I think we are getting our forces in place for a very hard initial blow. Bush, I'm sure, is keenly aware of his father's mistake letting Saddam off the hook.

-- Anonymous, October 05, 2001