My Score
Card
By BOB DOLE
If we stay the
course in this war of liberation, Saddam Hussein will be the big
loser, and the Iraqi people the truest beneficiaries. As of now,
there are many other losers and winners. Here are a few, and
grades for their roles thus far:
•
U.S./Coalition Troops. (A+) The biggest champions are our men and
women in uniform, who've risked their lives for freedom. Some have
been wounded; others have made the ultimate sacrifice. All deserve
our undying gratitude.
• President
Bush. (A) Reality is returning to our political debate. People are
recognizing the president as a strong leader who risked popularity
and political capital to do what was right. He has won every
battle so far in the war against terrorism. He will soon be
credited for liberating Iraq's 25 million people -- in addition to
Afghanistan's 25 million last year. Americans look to their
presidents for leadership and integrity. They have both of these
in President Bush.
• The U.N. (F).
If you have a security problem, don't call the Security Council.
The U.N. has condemned itself to irrelevancy. The path to peace
remains around, not through, the U.N.
• France (F-).
F is for France. The U.N. can never be relevant unless the
Security Council is restructured. France's presence is an
anachronism. It should be removed, and Germany and Japan
added.
• Germany
(Gentleman's C). Through their experience of World War II, the
Germans have earned the right to oppose war. Unlike the French,
they can say with authority, "We don't want another
war." When Chancellor Schroeder echoes that view, he taps
into something real. Germany leads Europe. Its economic reach is
global, and it is a vital ally. It wasn't with us in Iraq, but
probably will be the next time.
• Russia. (D)
President Putin's opposition to the war is disturbing. Russia
wants to maintain Iraq's status quo for economic reasons. We want
it to move beyond crude self-interest. Russia is at a crossroads
and needs to join the West, or it will be the biggest state to
fail in transition to democracy.
• Turkey.
(Incomplete; D+ to date) Ankara has tried to have it both ways.
Desperate for economic aid, it wants to do just enough to meet
U.S. demands. It's lucky to have friends in the Bush
administration, or else its limits on the war -- which put our
soldiers at risk -- would be unacceptable. Turkish leaders who say
they oppose the war out of fear of Kurdish uprisings should accept
the Bush administration's commitment to prevent formation of a
Kurdish state.
• Britain and
Australia. (A) Once again, Britain has proved to be our most
stalwart ally. I often disagree with Tony Blair, but admire his
stance on Iraq. Sometimes accused of turning with political winds,
he stood firm, even while risking the fall of his government. My
wife, Sen. Elizabeth Dole, is proposing that he receive a
Congressional Gold Medal for his support. We should also
acknowledge the Australians, who risk lives to liberate a country
half a world away. When it matters -- World Wars, Korea, Vietnam,
the Gulf, now Iraq -- Australia is there.
• Spain (A).
Let's not forget Jose María Aznar, who took on the French, and
has shown that he is the sturdiest leader Spain has had since the
restoration of its democracy.
• Democrats
(B-) and Republicans (A). All Democrats in the Congress support
our troops, but many balk at supporting our commander in chief. No
one can claim that he did not try diplomacy -- and repeatedly.
Yes, diplomacy failed, but responsibility for that lies in Baghdad
and Paris.
• The
Protesters (D-). Anti-war protests are legitimate, but anti-U.S.
ones that portray Mr. Bush, not Saddam, as the villain, are not.
After the war, the protesters can go home. And the Hollywood
celebrity critics can work on their high school GEDs. Mr. Dole, a
former Senate Majority Leader, was the 1996 Republican candidate
for president