Power Grabs and Intervention
August 15th, 2006Fred Kaplan, one of my favorites, is writing about the UN’s recent resolution for a cease-fire and occupation in Lebanon. He wonders out loud whether or not it’ll work (possible, but difficult), and then says that there’s one major problem: if this doesn’t work, it could “collapse” the Security Council of the UN. I disagree: while the Lebanon resolution sets firm principles on the table, this sort of declaration is nothing new for the Council. In fact, I’d say the only major affect this could have is if the UN succeeds at maintaining peace in Israel. Otherwise, if it fails that is, it’s business as usual. Maybe Republicans in America will be surlier when someone proposes UN Intervention, but they’re surly as is, so surely there’s little over which to worry.
As far as business as usual goes, Bush is all for smaller government, and it shows!
A provision tucked in a federal defense bill would allow the president to take control of a state’s National Guard, without the governor’s consent. The bipartisan National Governors Association is right to object to this attack on state authority. Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, a Republican, said the provision violates “200 years of American history” and is part of a larger federal effort to make states no more than “satellites of the national government.” The U.S. government has had the power to federalize Guard troops during emergencies, ranging from enforcing desegregation laws to responding to natural disasters. But the House-passed version of the National Defense Authorization Act broadens that power beyond comfort. The legislation gives the president the right to take control when there is “a serious natural or man-made disaster, accident, or catastrophe.” This language, which is not in the Senate version of the bill, should be rejected when a conference committee finalizes the bill next month.
Even if it gets rejected, it’s amazing what the President will try for. He’s working under a principle my friend Wesley told me about, regarding women: “if you ask out every woman you know and meet, you’re bound to find a ton of willing women.” I’d imagine that George Bush figures, “If I reach for every bit of power I can get, I’m bound to receive more than I got.” For shame.