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Journalism of Courage
The cabinet George W Bush has assembled with admirable speed, making up for lost time during the protracted election, is strongly conservative and has proven capabilities in business and government. That combination should guarantee a pronounced rightward shift in American policies at home and abroad. When he was declared winner of the controversial presidential election, Bush promised to unite a divided nation and to practice bipartisanship.
Americans must wait to find out what he intends to do to keep that promise. As far the cabinet is concerned, regardless of the fact that it happens to be the most ethnically diverse in American history, the conservative bent is unmistakable and is its most striking characteristic. Only one Democrat has been persuaded so far to join his team. Although Democrats propose to contest the appointments of two or three they consider arch- conservatives, including John Ashcroft attorney general and Linda Chavez labour secretary, they are unlikely to do anything more thanscore political points. Senate approval of all cabinet nominees is taken as a foregone conclusion.
In international affairs, specific crisis from externally-made ones like West Asia to home-grown ones like the missile defence controversy will be among the main priorities during Bush8217;s four-year term. What is of special interest to the world is how this nation will exercise its unprecedented power and influence. Bush8217;s commitment to hardline defence postures and relative lack of interest in world affairs means that it will be left to his defence secretary, Donald Rumsfeld, secretary of state, General Colin Powell and national security adviser Condoleezza Rice to define policy. They are all said to be realists, something India should welcome in preference to idealists who attempt unwisely to shape the world according to their own lights.
