The Death of Sadaam Hussein

It is clear that U.S. policy makers in this administration can proceed without fear of opposition from any quarter. The Democratic Party's "victory" in the last election was to have fooled the U.S. electorate into believing that its wishes for an early end to the debacle in Iraq would be heeded. These guys can't backtrack fast enough at this point. What is at stake here, however, may be more significant than Democrats and Republicans alike realize. If voting for the so-called opposition party does not bring about a change in direction, voters are left with essentially two options: (a) join the ever-increasing mass of citizens who show little faith in the democratic system and refuse to use the ballot box; or (b) create additional political parties. Perhaps we should all hope for option B. That would mean that at least one good thing will come of the arrogant disregard for the people's will currently being demonstrated by both parties. The assassination of Sadaam Hussein has evocations of Tolstoy's "Hadji Murat" or of the decision to have Marat assassinated by Charlotte Corday. This is the politics of nineteenth century intrigue--a tradition that owes more to Machiavelli than it does to Tom Paine.