David Gelernter, in today's L.A. Times, wrote of the Bush doctrine:

But what about the doctrine's moral coherence? Why are we targeting some evil regimes and ignoring others?

Because our strength is great but not unlimited. The Bush Doctrine doesn't excuse the president from protecting U.S. security and interests first and foremost. So we can't do all the good we would like to, which doesn't absolve us from doing as much as we can. Overthrowing tyrants, in this sense, is like showing charity. We have no power to give to everyone, no right to give to no one. The United States cannot sweep away every tyrant. But if we don't sweep away some, don't do what we can for the tortured peoples of this Earth, what are we doing at the top?

he's making these statements based on a simple presumption: the United States is now the most powerful nation on earth. in this view, might is not merely right, it's Right. there is no distinction from the force we wield -- military and economic -- and the moral and ethical choices our leaders make. especially when that leader is George W Bush:

I'd rather have a superb doer than talker in the White House. Bush is a superb doer. Clinton was a superb talker.

the things that Bush has sought to do, Gelernter applauds. but to do so, he must apply the most appalling moral relativism, if not outright disregard for the welfare of the majority of humans on earth. he moans the amount of tyranny in the world, but every bit of it is alien, foreign, other. the US is responsible for not one whit of the world's suffering -- unless it is our failure to act to overthrow tyrants where they exist. because Clinton used diplomacy far more than force, he is an inferior president. disregard that that Clinton's results did more to promote peace than anything Bush has yet to accomplish -- Northern Ireland, the Mideast, Bosnia, not necessarily fully his enterprises but each successful because of his involvement. disregard that Bush is bringing the world closer and closer to chaos and collapse. disregard that power in the form of a fist has never done anything but foment resistance and rebellion. disregard that the word "peace" in Bush's mouth is simply another tool.

that's the Bush doctrine. it's a proven failure, and it's embarrassing to have Cold War arguments like Gelernter's repackaged like this. it's as embarrassing as a deserter in a flight suit pretending to be a man of honor and peace -- and just as destructive.