"THE FUTURE OF FREEDOM COULD BE AT STAKE"

Indeed.

There is a touch of old-fashioned American evangelism in President Bush's explanation of his fundamental decision to go to war in Iraq.
He views it as a natural and essential part of a critical mission — or as he puts it, "the calling of our time, the calling of our country" — to convert the world to democracy.

Freedom, he declares in speech after speech, is not a right granted by governments, it is a right granted by God. And he believes that in some way God has "called" America to be the bold champion of freedom across the world so that eventually all people can be free.

Thus, he believes that America is doing God's work, although he doesn't directly say it that way. He put it like this in a speech last Monday in Little Rock:

"It should be clear that the future of freedom and peace depend on the actions of America. This nation is freedom's home and freedom's defender. We welcome this charge of history, and we are keeping it." ...

Presidential historian Robert Dallek, who admits to not being a Bush fan, calls the president's mission "American evangelism run wild."

Whatever it is, Bush is articulating a vision that deserves closer examination and debate, not just dismissal. The future of freedom could be at stake.