Jerusalem - David Ignatius detects in the panel’s responses a global and national Bush-fatigue. This is true, but should not be confused with a desire for America to disappear into its shell. Internationally at least, most people, whether they admit it or not, would dread for Americans to close their borders, close their minds, and leave the world to its own devices. That would be a disaster because power abhors a vacuum.
If every nation minded its own business, there would be no need for an assertive America in the world. Would that that were the case. Unfortunately, the result of America turning inward would be open season for every rogue regime, terrorist group, and megalomaniac dictator.
So my message to the candidates is that the leader of the United States does not have the luxury of having no interest in or strategy towards defending and advancing freedom and prosperity in the world. It can be a strategy very different than that of previous presidents, but they must have a strategy beyond "I won't be arrogant" or "I will talk to our enemies." Fine, but then what? What if talking is not enough?
Talk was not enough to defeat apartheid in South Africa, Marcos in the Philippines, Somoza in Nicaragua, the Soviet Union, etc. The same is true regarding today's enemies of freedom.
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