[Bazf]

For half a century, our priorities were dominated by the fear of Russian Communism--until it collapsed of its own internal weakness. As I listen to the grim rhetoric of Messrs. Bush and Cheney, I wonder if they are leading us into another half-century of cold war, with terrorism replacing Communism as the second great hobgoblin of our age.
The Administration now has seventy-five officials hidden in bunkers outside Washington poised to take over the government in the event of a terrorist attack. Is it possible that paranoia has become policy? No such extreme measures were undertaken in World War II, nor in the half-century of cold war between the two nuclear giants, Russia and the United States. Our military services are the best in the world. But with a military budget at record levels, do we need to allocate another $48 billion--an amount greater than the total budget of most 3rd world countries? Is not the surest foundation for our military forces a healthy, educated, usefully employed citizenry? but if we educate to much the citizenry may understand whats going on and the rich may not get richer.