Missing Dean Acheson

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/01/opinion/01brooks.html?scp=4&sq=david%20brooks&st=cse
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---------- Forwarded message ----------From: barry levine <levinebar@gmail.com>Date: Fri, Aug 1, 2008 at 9:16 AMSubject: Missing Dean AchesonTo: letters@nytimes.com
To the Editor: Mr. Brooks asks why the U.S. can't exercise leadership in the worldtoday, and then erects a smokescreen to keep us from the answer. InSeptember of 2001, the world reacted in horror and solidarity to theattacks on the World Trade Center and the pentagon. People andgovernments around the world lined up to join a broad coalition underAmerican leadership to eliminate the threat from Al Qaeda. A millionmen marched in Teheran, the governments around the world, includingthose of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan offered their aid. All that wasneeded was for the American president to step up. Instead, George W.Bush preferred to grab the extraordinary powers of a war-time leader.He called for "crusade", thereby instantly alienating our front-lineallies in this fight. Bold initiatives like the Marshall Plan aren't lacking becausepower has become spread among more nations. Bold initiatives arelacking because the U.S. lacks a leader.Barry Levine1142 Brown AveLafayette, CA 94549