"The message from President Bush Tuesday night was clear: We are a nation at war.

"As we gather tonight, hundreds of thousands of American servicemen and women are deployed across the world in the war on terror," he said.

"Each day, law enforcement personnel and intelligence officers are tracking terrorist threats; analysts are examining airline passenger lists; the men and women of our new Homeland Security Department are patrolling our coasts and borders. And their vigilance is protecting America."

The president went on to defend all the tools he says are needed in this war, ranging from the invasion of Iraq to the use of the Patriot Act.

All that makes me wonder: Why are we still fighting the last war?"

Get the Story:
Mark Trahant: Quit fighting the Cold War (The Seattle Post-Intelligencer 1/25)

More Mark Trahant:
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Mark Trahant: Preparing for the unthinkable (09/22)
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