Final Word from Monday, January 24, 2005
George W. Bush's inaugural speech on Thur. marked a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy. Out is the war on terror, in is the war on tyranny. Bush said that America's ultimate goal is ending tyranny in the world. Pat Buchanan, a conservative commentator, said that Bush was "asserting the right to intervene in the internal affairs of every single country on earth." This is a formula for permanent war, Buchanan said. Before the speech, Czech Foreign Minister Cyril Svoboda told MFD that he hopes Bush's belief in the idea of liberty will guide him in his second term. Indeed, Bush said in the speech that "America proclaims liberty throughout the world." Czech leaders have been silent on Bush's speech so far. As allies in the war on terror, they'll have to decide at some point whether to join Bush's crusade to take liberty to those who might not even know they want it. [United States Czech Republic presidential inauguration MF Dnes freedom Patrick J. Buchanan]