Buchanan Asks a Question

Pat Buchanan published a commentary on President Bush's speech last Saturday in Riga, Latvia. In the speech, Bush pointedly reminded Russian President Vladimir Putin that the only good end which can come from a war is freedom for the people affected by that war. Buchanan quotes Bush's words:

"For much of Eastern and Central Europe, victory brought the iron rule of another empire. V-E day marked the end of fascism, but it did not end the oppression. The agreement in Yalta followed in the unjust tradition of Munich and the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. Once again, when powerful governments negotiated, the freedom of small nations was somehow expendable. ... The captivity of millions in Central and Eastern Europe will be remembered as one of the greatest wrongs in history."

Very stirring. Also, a very honest confrontation with one of the great, tragic errors in American diplomacy. I suspect Putin was left grinding his teeth, as he should if the diminutive Russian thinks there was anything good about Stalin's horrific dictatorship. I also commend Buchanan for his support of our current president's actions in this area.

Buchanan then continues by summarizing the dismal diplomacy prior to the war, the way France and England had declared war against Germany over that country's invasion of Poland, how the rest of the world was sucked in, and how in 1945, Poland had exchanged German rule for Soviet dominance.

Finally, Buchanan poses the question: "Was that worth fighting a world war-- with 50 million dead?"

I'd like to answer that:

YES! On behalf of all the murdered Jews, Gypsies, and other "undesirables" whom you didn't even bother to mention: YES! On behalf of all the American servicemen and allies who died for the sake of freedom: YES!

And despite the fact that the diplomacy of Roosevelt and Churchill negated many of the gains of that war: YES!

It was still worth fighting.

And by the way, shame on you, Pat Buchanan, for using President Bush's words to dishonor those who fought and those who died for our country.

Now I'd like to pose a question of my own. "Was having Pat Buchanan leave the Republican Party worth losing whatever votes he took with him?"

YES!

Democrats, look at Howard Dean and take note.