Gen. Powell's statement today on being nominated Secretary of State deserves close attention. It promises support for "missile defense," and all but announces renewed bombing of Iraq. I am reminded of the way that Reagan came into office. Foreign policy (or more aptly, killing foreigners) plays an important domestic political role because it's the one area where the President has complete discretion. A President Bush who finds it difficult to get any domestic agenda passed will be tempted to use this to toss the right some red meat and distinguish himself from the Clinton administration. Since Clinton was hardly averse to bombing folks on the flimsiest of pretexts, as in the shameful attack on Somalia, we can expect an escalation. One may not agree with all their alternatives, but I commend to people's attention the "Foreign Policy in Focus" site, http://www.foreignpolicy-infocus.org/ which represents a serious effort to think through a large number of issues. Best, Colin
