President "George V.F.W. Bush" is confused, to borrow the opening statement of Mike Marchand's Viewpoint column yesterday. While Marchand's column is admittedly a parody, his underlying message that critics of recent U.S. foreign policy are snobbish or anti-American is rather explicit. This is, however, an oversimplification of a very complex issue. By branding the nations of North Korea, Iran and Iraq as an "axis of evil" during the highly visible State of the Union address, the president was not merely affirming his commitment to protecting U.S. citizens from the threat of terror.

This was not an off-the-cuff comment that certain pundits have blown out of proportion, but a calculated evocation of an unmistakable war-time reference in an era where three small words can quickly resonate throughout the world. In recent months, the Bush administration has been working feverishly to legitimate the United State's "war on terrorism" in an effort to maintain broad-based international support.

However, most foreign leaders have been quick (and correct) in pointing out that the three aforementioned countries represent three different situations that require separate and distinct responses; the "war on terrorism" could never properly be compared to any conventional war.

The international response to the events of Sept. 11 was remarkably supportive, but this broad backing of U.S. initiatives has waned. Consequently, the Bush administration must be more sensitive in its foreign policy, or else they will be forced to "do what is necessary to ensure our nation's security" without support.

Russia has been vocal about non-interference outside of efforts in Afghanistan. South Korea, which for the past decade has been enticing North Korea to open up its relations and economy, has expressed concern that Bush's remarks are undermining its own diplomatic efforts. These are not expressions of anti-American sentiment and should not be viewed as such.

The bottom line is that combating terrorism is not a black and white issue and if President Bush continues to refer to his allies as "weak-kneed" for not supporting his own initiatives, the United States will have no choice but to fight this "war" alone.

Derek Vollmer

senior

off-campus

Feb. 25, 2002

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