Come on, let’s stop the nonsese.
Today is the first day of the rest of your tenure.You can go on as before, and leave office as a joke in U.S. history books.The sax player who has turned himself into the sex player.
To go on preoccupied by Monica and her ilk, a target for every bimbo youencounter.
To go on lying to cover up old lies.
To go on boasting of achievements not of your making, claiming feathersthat belong in another’s cap.
To go on taking credit for the American economic boom, flourishing becauseof its own internal strength, not because of anything particular either you oryour government have done.
To stage cheap shows, like the one you staged on the lawn of the WhiteHouse after Arafat and Rabin had taken the courageous step in Oslo, behindyour back and without involving you in any phase of the process.
To flutter like a leaf in the face of every world crisis, without a clearline of action, with no strategy, with no clear objective.
Let’s face the facts: You got to your exalted position because,at the time, after Desert Storm, when George Bush seemed invincible, nostrong Democratic candidate was willing to offer his candidacy. You, a notparticularly successful governor of a not particularly important state,took up the challenge, having nothing to lose. You dared and succeeded.My hat is off to you and to the magnificent Hillary.
But throughout the six years of your presidency, you have yet to do a singlething which would secure your place in history. You have always been a greatspeaker, for us as well, as you demonstrated at Rabin’s funeral. Youhave a capacity to radiate credibility, to shed a quiet tear when theoccasion calls for it, to make a joke at the right moment. All fine andgood. But what about actions?
Now even these modest achievements have been buried under a wave of ridicule.You have managed to turn the only world superpower into the laughingstock ofthe world. Every Sadam Hussein, every Benjamin Netanyahu, every Bin Ladencan taunt you with impunity.
With a whole lot of luck you could coast in this manner for another two years.You could swing from crisis to crisis, dispatching the occasional missilesto blow up “terrorist targets,” just to prove that you are still around, akind of Netanyahu clone.
But you could chose a different path. You could decide to dedicate your lasttwo years in the White House to make your mark in the history books as a greatpresident, after all.
For this to happen, you must first get rid of all the extra weight which youhave accumulated. Do not court easy popularity. Do not try to evade thestruggle to achieve serious goals. Set yourself suitable goals andstick to them.
Refrain from acting as an agent for Vice President Al Gore’s electioncampaign. Do not coddle the electorate nor special-interest groups vitalfor his election. If he is worthy of it — and this is not at all clear– let him take care of himself.
Find yourself a real Secretary of State. Send auntie Albright packing.Pick someone like James Baker. As a matter of fact — pick James Baker.
Learn to pound the table, to disregard those bought senators, to act in thereal American national interest.
The Israeli-Arab conflict is poisoning the Middle East, turning the entireregion into a festering swamp breeding mosquitoes of terror. It will leadto the takeover of the majority of the Moslem world by Islamicfundamentalism, to the collapse of all of the pro-American regimes, to warand destruction.
Speaking as an Israeli patriot, I would like to point out to you that theU.S. is also a signatory to the Oslo Accords. As such, you shouldeliminate the entire pathetic bunch currently handling this matter on yourbehalf. Inform Mr. Netanyahu that if he persists in violating the Accordsevery step of the way, the wrath of the the mighty American arm willdescend on him. Put a stop to the settlements scandal, to landconfiscations, to the destruction of homes, and to the blocking of freepassage between Gaza and the West Bank. See to it that the threewithdrawal steps are carried out as agreed upon. Bring both sides toserious negotiations on permanent status.
If you chose this path, you will incur the wrath of many. Our crazy rightwing will undoubtedly brand you an antisemite. Senators and Congressmenelected by the right-wing Jewish lobby will go on a rampage against you.But when peace comes, you will be the hero of both the people of Israeland of Palestine, which can only count in your favor at home.
So, too, should you act in Kosovo, in Africa and everywhere where peace,freedom and democracy are endangered. It is your duty as the leader ofthe sole superpower.
Pull yourself up and go forth. You have nothing to lose but the jokes atyour expense.