Pushing guns and butter

ブッシュ大統領の一般教書演説

The State of the Union speech is usually an election manifesto. Mr. Bush's speech was no exception. He spent the first three-quarters of the speech on domestic concerns. He promised tax cuts, health-care reform and a variety of other domestic initiatives. He pledged to secure his country's future without passing on burdens to future generations.

That pledge will be difficult to honor given Mr. Bush's desire to cut taxes. The president called for the acceleration of previously designed tax cuts and the introduction of new ones. He has laid out a $674 billion economic plan to get the U.S. economy over its current difficulties. Resistance to the plan is strong, especially when it comes to the centerpiece of the proposal, the elimination of double taxation of dividends. In his speech Mr. Bush said that "we will not pass along our problems . . . to future generations." The deficit statistics cited by the Congressional Budget Office suggest that is not true.

The call for tax cuts was expected. Some of the other proposals that have become mainstays of the State of the Union speech were not. The biggest surprise was the president's promise to commit $15 billion over the next five years to help combat AIDS in Africa and the Caribbean. He noted that 30 million people throughout the African continent — including over 3 million children — carry the AIDS virus. More than 4 million people require immediate drug treatment, yet only 50,000 victims receive the medicine they need. This is, as Mr. Bush said, unconscionable in an age of miraculous medicines. The president's pledge will help turn the tide in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

The devastation wrought by man-made terror was the president's other great concern. He noted progress in the war against international terrorism and declared that civilized society was winning. He said that Iraqi President Saddam Hussein is an imminent threat to world peace and that trusting the Iraqi leader is not an option. He tried to link that regime to the al-Qaeda network. Ultimately, Mr. Bush declared that the use of force against Iraq is not only justified but necessary.

Mr. Bush's rhetoric was strong, but his proof was less than compelling. The case for a war against Iraq has not been made. Mr. Bush recognizes that; he said that U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell would deliver to the United Nations the evidence that Iraq has deceived the world and that much more must be done if war is to be averted.

Mr. Bush made clear, however, that his administration will not wait if the U.N. does not move. In the most stirring segment of his speech, the president declared that "we will consult, but let there be no misunderstanding. If Saddam Hussein does not fully disarm, for the safety of our people and for the peace of the world, we will lead a coalition to disarm him." Distinguishing between "a process" and "results," he said that he would do "whatever action is required, whenever action is necessary."

The State of the Union speech is always a dramatic moment. It provides more insight into a president's world view than is perhaps intended. Last year's speech will always be remembered for the phrase "the axis of evil," which, though ill-considered, was a perfectly accurate reflection of Mr. Bush's view of those three countries. This year, that phrase was not used. Instead, Mr. Bush noted that "different threats require different strategies." He noted the yearnings for freedom of the Iranian people and said that North Korea will only find respect in the world when its regime abandons its nuclear program.

The style and substance of a State of the Union address reveals as much about a president's character as it does about his program. This year, Mr. Bush again showed how deeply he is guided by faith. His world is divided between good and evil. He is a man who makes moral judgments and acts upon them. He is comfortable in a world of black and white and can be impatient with the compromises and uncertainties of politics. While these qualities say much about the man, it is troubling that they are found in a U.S. president.

The Japan Times:
February 1, 2003
(C) All rights reserved

      大統領は演説の最初の4分の3を国内問題に割き、減税、医療制度改革などを公約した。また、次世代に財政負担を転嫁せずに国の将来を安定させると約束した。しかし、減税を実施しながらその約束を守るのは困難だろう。大統領は現行減税の加速化と新規の減税を計画している。また、大統領が演説で発表した6，470億ドルの景気対策、特に配当に対する二重課税撤廃案に抵抗が強まっている。

      減税案は予想されていたが、アフリカとカリブ諸島のエイズ対策に今後5年間に150億ドルを支出する案はまったく予想されていなかった。大統領によれば、アフリカ大陸に3,000万人のエイズ感染者がおり、400万人以上が直ちに治療を必要としているが、必要な医薬品を入手できるのは5万人に過ぎないという。

      一般教書演説の重要テーマはイラク問題だった。大統領は、フセイン・イラク大統領を世界平和への直接脅威であるとして、対イラク武力行使は正当であるばかりでなく必要だと述べた。大統領は対イラク攻撃が必要な具体的根拠を示さなかったが、パウエル国務長官が国連に対しイラクが大量破壊兵器開発などについて国際社会をだましている証拠を示すと述べた。

      また、ブッシュ大統領は、フセイン政権が大量破壊兵器を完全廃棄しなければ、米国は自国の安全と世界平和のため連合国軍の先頭に立って武力で目的を達すると述べた。

      一般教書演説は、大統領の世界観をはっきり示す。ブッシュ大統領は信念の人で、黒白をはっきりさせることを好み、政治につきものの妥協、不安定な状態を好まない。

      大統領がこのような性格の持ち主であることは気になる。

The Japan Times Weekly
February 1, 2003
(C) All rights reserved