That Dog Won't Hunt
There is absolutely no reason to doubt that federal investigators identified a link between the embassy bombings in Africa and the terrorist sites in Afghanistan and Sudan attacked on Thursday by American forces, or that the attack is justified. Whatever one thinks of Bill Clinton, surely Sandy Berger and Bill Cohen would not take part in any wag-the-dog scenario. Republicans who suggest otherwise--including, to our astonishment and his embarrassment, the usually sober Sen. Dan Coats (R., Ind.)--should be ashamed of themselves. President Clinton should instead be commended for finally responding appropriately to a terrorist attack.

But did he have to put on his business suit, fly back to Washington, and play Leader of the Free World? With communications technology being what it is (the White House knows all about encrypted video transmissions by now), he could easily have stayed holed up in his Martha's Vineyard getaway and remained in complete control of the situation.

During occasional moments of international turmoil, President Bush used to go boating in Kennebunkport to send a reassuring signal of calm and cool leadership to the public. In contrast, Clinton makes a beeline for the t.v. cameras to speak gravely, furrow his brow, and show that he's just doin' his duty.

And it's clear that this show of force serves Clinton's political interests. For seven months, the White House scandal strategy has had a clear goal: Delay. These bombing raids on the other side of the world will buy a little time for Clinton. The nonstop media coverage of his misbehavior now has screeched to a halt. Clinton partisans will tag anyone who calls for his resignation in the next 48 hours as unpatriotic.

And even the wilder flights of fancy that--let's be honest--have occurred to most of us today, however briefly, suggest how poorly Clinton is seen three days after the DNA speech. But alas for Clinton, Thursday's air strike did not include the federal courthouse on Pennsylvania Ave., where Monica Lewinsky was reportedly compounding Clinton's severe legal troubles by contradicting his testimony from Monday.