Every president confronts terrifying crises; it goes along with the territory. Some of them are horrific, even no-win, and I have to wonder which of our current candidates has the courage to make the sort of politically suicidal decision Henry Fonda's president must in Fail Safe.
Which one of our candidates, President Barack Obama or former Governor Mitt Romney, would have the cojones to do the right thing, even if that means we shoot down our own planes, or (God forbid) obliterate an entire American city? And which would refuse to apologize for a terrible American mistake that had tragic consequences? Which one would be influenced by those who see in the tragedy an opportunity to flex American muscle, even if it means ultimately making us less secure?
The U.S. makes mistakes, sometimes individual military personnel make them, sometimes our contract mercenaries; sometimes errors of judgment happen up (far up) the chain of command. Do we insist on the doctrine that we are flawless, and therefore do not make mistakes as a world power, refusing to apologize or make amends? In fact, is the propoer response to up the rhetoric or rattle our sabre louder to exploit a tragic situation?
Mitt Romney and the Republicans scorn what they call President Obama's "apology tour" early in his term. The president's efforts to repair our extremely tarnished foreign policy reputation through careful diplomacy has been called weakness and derided as "European" or "anti-colonialist," or worse.
Hearing Romney's jingoistic rhetoric during his acceptance speech Thursday night makes me wonder how a President Romney might frame America's foreign policy. And watching Fail Safe again makes me shudder to think what a President Romney would do if we should again find ourselves on the brink of war.
Article comments
1 - Glenn Contrarian
Some here seem to think that 'honor' is an outdated notion, a mark of real naivete about the modern world. Then there are those who confuse personal pride with honor, who never seem to get the stark difference between the two.
But honor is very, very important to me. When I see Mitt Romney's book No Apology, I have to ask myself what it shows our children when it is no longer socially acceptable to apologize for what oneself (or what one's unit/company/nation) has done that was wrong. I teach my children to apologize when they're wrong even if it's to someone they really, really don't like...because that is the honorable thing to do.
Obama's shown the courage to do that when necessary. Romney's shown just the opposite - and in my book he has no honor. McCain had honor. So did George H.W. Bush and Reagan and even (at least to an extent) George W. Bush. but Romney? None.
Great article, Barbara, and it hits home with those to whom honor is crucial.
2 - barbara barnett
Thanks Glenn! Just happened across the movie (which has had a deep influence on my since I was about 10 years old), and it inspired me.
I wonder how Romney (or even GW Bush) would have responded to the Cuban Missile Crisis? We know how Bush and the neocons reacted to 9-11--they invaded Iraq.
3 - Glenn Contrarian
I loved Fail Safe, too, almost as much as I did Dr. Strangelove (the latter is why my Playstation Network name is "Major Bat Guano").
How would Romney or Dubya respond to something like the Cuban Missile Crisis? When the only thing in your toolbox is a hammer....
4 - barbara barnett
Indeed. I loved Dr. Strangelove! I have a feeling none of use would be here now if one of them had been in charge in October 1962.
5 - Dr. Joseph S. Maresca
The scenarios posed between the U.S. and the Soviet Union are more likely to happen with countries like Iran or N.Korea. This is so because both countries are significantly isolated from the rest of the world. This level of isolation puts them and the rest of the world in greater danger for all of the reasons you enunciated above. In addition, these countries have bizarre attitudes toward America and the West in general. Some of those attitudes might be changing with new leadership in N.Korea and the significant opposition forces demonstrated in Iran's recent election.