From Lincoln to Bush to a rational future

["John Gelles" <johng@xxxxxxxxxx>]

    WHY THE CLASH OF CIVILIZATIONS IS
    NOT JUST AN IDEA - EASY TO DISMISS

    People are susceptible to group affiliation based
    on national or tribal identity, ideology, social class,
    economic interest, or perceived safe course of
    action.

    Islamic fascism, an ideology appealing to identity,
    ideology, immediate interest and personal safety,
    may be able to sow the seeds of a clash between
    modern benign imperfect pluralism and Islamic
    militant dreams. Even if it cannot, it's attempt to
    sow the seeds unleashes acts of terror around the
    world aimed mostly at the United States.  If we
    would prevent great loss of life, we may have to
    risk a clash of civilizations to end Islamic fascism.

    We cannot end fascism without replacing it with
    a political economy that works for the nation-
    states that survive political change and reorienta-
    tion.

    Iraq is the case in point. It must survive great
    change surrounded by Turkey and Iran and
    with its majority population being Shiite not Suni
    Muslims.  If, in the larger context, Christian and
    Muslim civilizations may clash, we know that
    Sunni and Shiite interests do already clash.
    Years of invested effort await the powers
    that would bring peace to region ripe for war.

    Meanwhile, Bush is perceived by some as
    a President facing choices like Lincoln and
    Franklin  Roosevelt. He is bound to be
    remembered for how he faced them.
    Lincoln was forced to use greenbacks,
    FDR to use sophistication and lend lease.

    President Bush seems not to have
    imagined he will need financial tools and
    power no less than other Presidents had
    who faced enormous costs for victory.
    Add to these the costs of urgent environ-
    mental needs, and Bush must become
    the power behind architects of financial
    restructuring for the information age.

    Heavy lifting has already be done by the
    Republican President Richard Nixon who
    freed us from the gold standard. R.N. also
    went to China to bring balance to the
    equation presented by the awakening of
    giants.

    Everything is in place. All our President
    needs is the courage to pursue his stated
    doctrine - modified by an attachment to
    repair and protection and financial reform
    in the tradition of Lincoln, both Roosevelts
    and Richard Nixon.

    It's worth betting he can do it - because
    if he does not we face ugly consequences.

        John Gelles