Last night, for the first time in his young presidency, George W. Bush stood before the American people and truly assumed the mantle of leadership.
His speech before a joint session of Congress was unusually compelling -- a powerful statement from a president who has had trouble conveying a serious image of authority during his first few months in office. It was both strong-willed and sensible; a testament to his administration's logical and reasoned approach to the terrorist attacks which struck America just 10 days ago.
Since that time, Bush has worked hard to fulfill the dual roles of compassionate consoler and determined policymaker. And, at a time when many Americans have been calling for immediate vengeance, the president set a powerful example by choosing the path of deliberation. This careful strategy sends a strong signal to our nation's enemies -- a signal that the United States, while vigilant and committed to its values, will never allow terrorists to disrupt its way of life.
Bush echoed that message perfectly last night, choosing to send the world a strong and thoughtful, yet overwhelmingly personal message: America will win the battle against terrorism, and it will do so without sacrificing its commitment to justice and liberty.
At the same time, of course, Bush's address revealed little that the American people did not already know about the current crisis and direction in which this nation is heading. We know that America is headed for armed conflict. And we know that the "war" of which Bush spoke may take a decidedly different form from the wars of past generations.
But even in the face of such uncertainty, the president presented his vision for resolution in a style that was both determined and reverent. We hope that he maintains such an attitude as the dreary realities of war begin to set in, and we hope that this nation responds to his sentiments with the consideration and support they are obviously due.
