9/23/2002 09:20:00 PM

Shoot first, ask later

The new world is the one rationalized by Bush’s manifesto: a world in which great powers wink at each other’s misconduct, every threat is imminent, self-defense means pre-emptive action abroad, interests are dressed up as values, and cooperation means cooperating with the United States. We don’t know what history will judge harshly about this era, but there’s a good chance it’ll be the compromises we embraced to rectify the mistakes of Sept. 11.