What's All This War Stuff About?

Each issue of The Atlantic Monthly is generally so excellent, it takes me time to wade through all of the articles. The January/February issue has an article by Francis Fukuyama titled Nation-Building 101.

The article begins with two quotes, both by President George W. Bush. The first was Bush in campaign-mode, prior to September 11:

"I don't think our troops ought to be used for what's called nation-building. I think our troops ought to be used to fight and win war."

The second Bushism comes from the President just last month:

"We meet here during a crucial period in the history of our nation, and of the civilized world. Part of that history was written by others; the rest will be written by us...Rebuilding Iraq will require a sustained commitment from many nations; including our own; we will remain in Iraq as long as necessary, and not a day more."

It's September 11, stupid. Even Clinton Administration Secretary of State Madeleine Albright said the same yesterday at the 9/11 Commission Hearings. Before 9/11, all of us -- Democrats and Republicans alike -- had no understanding of the perils of Wahhabism or Osama bin Laden. If we had heard of them, it was only in passing; something that happened to somebody else somewhere else. As Fukuyama says, "the September 11 terrorist attacks changed American politics."