Best offense is a good defense

Since 9/11, fear has been a Bush political wild card. We were led to believe that, among other dire consequences, not taking out Saddam could lead to paying at least three dollars for a gallon of gas. Imagine! Then there’s the familiar recitation “whip ‘em over there or they’ll be over here.” These dots just don’t connect. Another caveat for leaving Iraq is “it will be a bloodbath if we go.” Have you looked lately? If we leave tomorrow or ten years from tomorrow, the age-old conflict will continue. Staying only postpones the inevitable.\nGlobalization dictates that we can’t be isolationists. Still, there is a need for dramatic change in our anti-terrorist strategy. We just can’t go chasing around the world fighting phantoms – especially when the world stands by and watches. Afghanistan is enough. More Iraqs are too much. We need to focus on a home security plan that confronts homegrown or foreign threats – whether it be terrorists or tornado aftermaths.\nWe should exploit our inner strength. Robert Montgomery Knight brought IU basketball back to national prominence by demonstrating that a good defense can neutralize a potent offense – and find a way to win.