If theory holds true that history repeats itself, it is important that we the citizens of the United States recognize how George W. Bush has distinctly Wilsonian values to the War on Terror. Between the spread of representative government, arms reduction and human rights, Bush is reinstituting values first set out by Wilson during his 1916 term. These aims were set aside until after World War II, later to be re-established by Harry S. Truman at the beginning of the Cold War. Cold War-era presidents following Truman also carried out these values through the Cold War but not quite as Wilson and Truman did and not how Bush is now. One wonders whether George W. Bush has simply become the next internationalist president since his father or is he starting anew as Truman did?
Just as Wilson proposed in 1919, Bush has supported the spread of democracy and human rights and the reduction of the foreign possession of arms. In doing so, he hopes to make the world safe for democracy. Bush stated in his second inaugural address:
"It is the policy of the United States to seek and support the growth of democratic movements and institutions in every nation and culture, with the ultimate goal of ending tyranny in our world."
Directly related to this are assertions of John Locke, one of the great minds of the Enlightenment and of democratic values who believed that where the rule of law ends, tyranny beings. Bush's definition of ending tyranny seems to be spreading democracy to foreign countries and also trying to grant every citizen of the world human rights.
The Cold War was exhausting to Americans in every sense: economically, mentally and physically. Every president from Truman to the elder Bush used aspects of Wilsonian values to justify Cold War policies. The Cold War was a long drawn out process, certainly longer than Truman or any other American in the 1940s thought it would be. The War on Terror so far has had many parallels to the Cold War; they were both justified with Wilsonian values and ultimately might prove to affect the world positively if the desired outcome is achieved. However, one must not forget what the Cold War cost America: time, money, resources and lives. The Cold War was a learning process for America, but it seems as if we have forgotten the damages the war caused. One must also not forget that today's war will be fought not only in the frontlines in Iraq but eventually in all terrorist-harboring nations, as well as in America. While it is true the intentions of this war are ultimately good, the question needs to be asked: Is the American home front able to bear another costly, lengthy war in a time of ever-growing domestic problems?
Brandon Hirsch and Jason Cox wrote this 'Your Turn' for the Daily News. Their views do not necessarily agree with those of the newspaper.
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