Timing is everything. No one should know that better than George
W. Bush. Those for and against the war have real questions about
the timetable on which this administration has operated.
The opposition has characterized the president’s actions as too
hasty. War supporters wonder what has taken so long. All the while,
President Bush continues to calmly operate on a timetable that he
laid out long ago – one that he and only a few others
understand.
Only nine days after Sept. 11, Bush gave a brief description of
how this war would be handled in an address to a joint session of
Congress. He warned us to expect “a lengthy campaign, unlike any
other we have ever seen.” More importantly he hoped that we would
understand the nature of this long attack and that the United
States would fight in “covert operations, secret even in
success.”
The timing of American action throughout this War on Terror is
just one more key to
covert operations, secret even in success.
Consider the days immediately following Sept. 11, and Israel’s
reaction. Surely that country, though saddened by our misfortune,
must have felt that their closest ally now had a newfound empathy
and would allow Israel to lash out against the terrorists who had
been persecuting them for some time. Instead we warned Israel that
any actions against its enemies would not be supported by
America.
Such seemingly strange actions by the Bush administration early
in the war may have been the result of this secretive timetable
already in effect. It was not that Bush did not think retaliation
by Israel was wrong – the timing was.
If Bush saw a future war in the Middle East, especially a war
with Iraq, perhaps he knew that immediate Israeli action did not
best fit into his long-term plan. Though it took Israel a long time
to comply, the country seems now to be willingly patient. Though
terrorist attacks have continued there, military action has
quieted.
I am willing to bet much of the lack of explanation in timing
revolves around the well-being of Israel and other countries in the
area. This may be why it has taken so long to decide to use force
in Iraq.
The basis for an attack on Iraq is the presence of harmful and
illegal weapons that Saddam will undoubtedly use given the chance.
If he does possess these weapons, we cannot afford to be unprepared
against any acts of desperation the dictator might take (like
launching a missile at Israel as soon as our troops hit the
border). Preparedness for all possible reactions takes much
time.
The timetable becomes more sensible when taking into account
that part of ensuring success in Iraq is protecting the region,
especially our ally Israel. Perhaps now the leaders of Israel are
among the few who understand the reasons behind Bush’s timing and
that the best way of defeating their enemy is to do it on our time.
There’s a good reason why Ariel Sharon can now tell his people that
there is only a 1 percent chance of being hit by Iraqi retaliation
from a U. S. attack. Israel may have American patience to thank for
that.
Whether or not the American people remember Bush’s Sept. 20,
2001, address, Bush does. And despite premature conjectures as to
the timing of his actions, he seems content to keep many things a
secret in order to ensure success in the region. Time will
tell.
Michael Stewart is a junior philosophy and religion
major.