The View From Here . . .

For a day or two this past week, as we commemorated the fifth anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, there was some sense of the unity that we felt in those difficult days in 2001. In general, the ceremonies and speeches were tasteful, and we remembered where we were when heard the terrible news, or like many of us, when we actually witnessed the tragic events. And, of course, for not a few families, there was the remembrance of someone who had been taken from them.

It would be idle to expect a return to the spirit of rallying around the flag and the President that we experienced for a short period five years ago. And in many ways it is a good thing that we are not all of one mind for extended periods. One of the virtues of a democratic society is the open and frank exchange of ideas. In addition, there is an important midterm election immediately ahead of us, and the President's supporters and his opponents cannot be expected to paper over their ideological and political differences.

However, most Americans would certainly welcome a respite from the nasty "gotcha" politics that seem to have dominated discourse in recent months, with each party trying desperately to get the upper hand in the debate over the war in Iraq.

Right now, while both President Bush and his opponents profess the highest interest in preserving and enhancing our national security, the political debate seems to come down to the connection between the war in Iraq and the attempt to make the world safe from terrorism. Each side blames the other for letting the country down.

Many Democrats assert that the connection between our true enemies such as al-Qaeda and the Iraqi insurgents is tenuous at best and that the war in a distraction from the main struggle. Indeed, one Democratic senator, Jay Rockefeller of West Virginia, claims that the world would have been better off if Saddam Hussein had remained in power. However, it should be noted that, while some Democrats like Ned Lamont favor a very rapid withdrawal or a fixed deadline for a pullout, others in the party are considerably more vague, with vague formulations like a "year of transition" or refocusing the mission of the United States troops.

Mr. Bush and his administration, of course, take a completely different view. In his address on the evening of September 11, Mr. Bush stated that "whatever mistakes have been made in Iraq, the worst mistake would be to think that if we pulled out, the terrorists would leave us alone. ....They will not leave us alone. They will follow us. The safety of America depends on the outcome of the battle in the streets of Baghdad."

One wonders if there cannot be at least some common ground. Many Democrats surely realize that, whether or not we should have been in Iraq in the first place, a precipitous withdrawal by the United States (under whatever guise) will lead to a chaotic situation in the country and an open invitation to terrorists. Many Republicans surely recognize that the war is not going well and that new directions (perhaps including new resources) are needed. While the temptations in this election season to make partisan points are great, the nation needs and deserves leaders who can rise above the rancor.