Baetjer to Frist to Baetjer to Frist

[arisbe]

Two days ago Howard Baetjer, a Towson University economist, wrote an open letter to Princeton classmate Bill Frist, the Senate Majority Leader:

Bail Bush out, Bill. Bail us all out. Call your colleagues together, rescind officially any authority Congress has given to the executive branch to declare war on Iraq, and state publicly that the decision on declaring war with Iraq shall be made by Congress alone, as required by Article 1, Section 8, of the Constitution.

Today Senator Frist replied:

At the end of the day, what divides us on this issue are not legalities and constitutional niceties. We differ on the best means to address the threat posed by Saddam Hussein — for surely there can be no doubt about the threat posed by this brutal dictator.

And Professor Baetjer responded:

There are two other key differences between us. The first concerns our view of the appropriate role of the American government. I believe that role is to protect the lives and property of people in the territory of the United States. You suggest that it includes

the liberation of the Iraqi people, the foundation of democratic government in Baghdad, and the spread of peace in the Middle East.

Where in the Constitution is the U.S. government directed to liberate other peoples and found governments?

The final difference between us is the crucial one. It’s a different view of the sheer capabilities of politicians and bureaucrats. You believe that American officials, once the destruction and bloodshed end, actually can accomplish “the liberation of the Iraqi people, the foundation of democratic government in Baghdad, and the spread of peace in the Middle East.”

I believe this is hubris...

The positions have been stated with clarity and intelligence. Click on the quotations above to see the complete documents, which may well find a place in the history of our era.

Comments

[stonemirror.livejournal.com]

Where in the Constitution is the U.S. government directed to liberate other peoples and found governments?

An excellent question, if sixty to ninety years late.

hubris, service, and secession...

[kiaroskuro.livejournal.com]

It's reassuring to see professors debating with senators... there seems to be so much disconnect between academia and government, and frankly, it frustrates me greatly. Many people in government think that professors are too idealistic, and that their writings and theories will have little effect on the world... and many in academia feel that government-types won't listen to them. One thing that seems to be true, though, is that Princeton fosters a sense of service in many of its students. Whether that service be to local or federal government, not-for-profits or your community, many of my classmates from Princeton are working in civil service.

Personally, I agree with Professor Baetjer when he says that it is hubris to believe that we can change the entire Middle East for the better. In order for there to be true peace there, the peoples need to see their enemies as human and same, not other. Storming in to remove Saddam is unlikely to do this.

And the West Coast seceding... hmmm... california does have the 7th largest economy in the world, if you look at it as if it were its own country.... of course, i'm kidding about the seceding part. The rest of the US already looks at California (and Hawaii I might add) as a separate country... and at one time, it was (and hawaii too). Maybe I'm just homesick for San Francisco because living in the DC area is doing nothing for my nerves!

i'm not sure where i'm going with this.. i just felt i needed to respond a bit.

[mattlazycat.livejournal.com]

Interesting reading. Thanks :)