The Arlen/Harburg doctrine
Yesterday Rocket Man noted Senator Kerry's explanation of the "global test" doctrine that he articulated in the debate with President Bush. As Senator Kerry brands the Bush campaign's condemnation of the "global test" doctrine a "pathetic" distortion, we should perhaps further consider his explanation for the record.
In response to a friendly question at a town hall meeting in New Hampshire yesterday, Senator Kerry said:
"The test I was talking about is a test of legitimacy — not just in the globe, but elsewhere. If you do things that are illegitimate in the eyes of other people, it's very hard to get them to share the burden and risk with you. I will never cede America's security to any institution or any other country. No one gets a veto over our security. No one."So there. The "test" includes "global" approval but also approval "elsewhere" -- somewhere over the rainbow. And such approval is not a precondition for action, it is -- what? -- only highly desirable. Criticism of the "test" as setting forth a "test" per se is therefore "pathetic." I get it!
UPDATE: At NRO Anne Bayefsky provides the necessary context: "Meet the graders."
