A Failure of Will

With his customary brilliance, Mark Steyn notes the diminution of confidence and will in the Bush Administration and the country generally -- something resembling a hangdog attitude that almost begs our adversaries in the Middle East to test our resolve in myriad ways.

As long as we lack the will to use our power -- and they know it -- things will only get worse, not better. There's a lot of blame to go around when it comes to who's sapped the collective political will: Opportunistic Democrats, who care more about regaining power than securing the country; some cowardly Republicans, who wilt like scared bunnies when the going gets tough; and the Administration itself, which seemingly cherishes the notion that "diplomacy," sweet talk from Secretary Rice, and the corrupt bureaucrats at the U.N. will combine somehow to achieve positive results -- an optimism that defies all logic and experience.

But the major point is that our adversaries don't really understand the iron fist in the velvet glove -- or, at least, not the velvet glove part of the equation. They respect a "strong horse"; sadly, right now, the U.S. is acting like an old steed that's been rode hard and put away wet.