The strategic doldrums
Dateline: In the Shire, Indiana, 27 August 2005
Long morning at construction site: entire first floor is framed now. Found one mistake, and found many more decisions to make. Intimidating to see all this energy and money set in motion, when we must rely so much on others--trusting they will do right by us. Thankfully, our builder is a great one, and he proves this day-in and day-out. Still, it intimidates. You start something, and then you realize how hard the follow-though will be.
America stands at a similar point in Iraq, and in the Gap in general. We know what needs to be done, but we are beginning to realize both the sacrifice and change triggered by this effort, and so we struggle with what it means to face this undeniably reality: nation-building is something we're going to be doing a lot of from here on out. We did it about once every ten years in the Cold War and we've done it about once every two years since: through Bush the Elder, through Clinton, and through Bush the Younger. It won't end with this administration.
So the real question remains: Do we want to get good at this or not?
Here's the daily catch:
■ Realistically, Iraq is right where it should be; it's America's priorities that are off kilter■ Want connectivity, willing to take whatever content comes with it