Obama Reaches for moral high ground
The two presidents since the 9/11 attacks – George W. Bush and Barack Obama – have spoken many times about the morality of their tactics against terrorists. The two differ widely on their approach, as do many Americans. Yet any counterterrorism strategy relies heavily on a national consensus in what is essentially a moral contest with Al Qaeda and like-minded groups.
On Thursday, President Obama tried once again in a speech to define the moral basis for his actions – in his use of predator drones even if they kill civilians, in trying to close Guantánamo Bay even if released detainees return to terror, in targeting American terrorists overseas even if that denies them constitutional rights.
As Mr. Bush dod, Obama wrestles daily with the Gordian knot of legal, practical, and moral demands related to ending terrorist attacks. In this latest speech, he made a strong case for his approach, considering the difficult trade-offs in dealing with an enemy that is stateless and ruthless, and whose horizon for conflict seems endless.