Congress has adjourned and won’t be back until the start of September. This is a great time for the President to campaign. He can make speech after speech around the country, getting great coverage (because there’s nothing else to cover) and laying a foundation for the upcoming Congressional elections without any coordinated Democrat response. The Democrats are out of Washington either campaigning or on vacation. The President has been effective with his rhetoric. He is making statements like “it’s time to protect the patients and not trial lawyers”. Or, in Mississippi, he recently said, “it’s time to protect the workers and hardhats, not the lawyers”. Lawyers are easy to bash and, in many cases, deserve bashing. He will not lose many votes, since the trial lawyers, as a group, are one of the largest and most effective contributors to the Democrat party. They are also, in my opinion, on the wrong side of several issues, including health care and tort reform. It won’t be until September that the Democrats are able to fire their guns and that may be too little and too late.
 
On another subject, I am continually being asked about what I think is going to happen in Iraq. Congressional hearings recently concluded and everybody has an opinion, so I might as well join the group. I believe that the increased rhetoric on Iraq is sending a message loud and clear to Saddam Hussein that this President and Administration aren’t going to fool around. If a smoking gun is found, Baghdad is going to be in shambles. It seems clear that our forces are beginning a build-up for going into Iraq, probably next spring. It will be difficult to keep much of a coalition together if we invade and there are many options in terms of what type of military action can be taken. I believe the beating of the drums regarding potential war with Iraq has given Vladimir Putin a chance to work with the Iraqi government and try to force some change in policies. I wouldn’t be surprised if Putin has said something like this: “Look, the Americans are going to come and this President isn’t going to fool around. There won’t be much left of Baghdad and Saddam, and there won’t be much left of you. Why don’t you try and make some changes and, if you do, I’ll work with the United States and President Bush to come to a peaceful conclusion.” Such changes would be difficult for Saddam to make. Under such a scenario, he would be forced to halt the manufacturing of weapons of mass destruction. Such actions would signal within Iraq his loss of power and subject him to being overthrown. The chance of Putin or anyone else being successful behind the scenes are marginal but worth trying. The alternative, war with Iraq and no U.S. exit strategy, is sobering.

One last thought: several high officials in the United States have publicly indicated that they believe Bin Laden is dead. This is being done on purpose. It creates doubt with many of his followers throughout the world who are as much in the dark as we are about his status. It may also force him to take some action or to make some type of public appearance through video to indicate that he is alive. If he is alive, this may help us find him and bring his personal reign of terror to a quick and just end.

Lou Frey represented Central Florida in the U. S. Congress from 1969 to 1979. In his last election, he received 78% of the vote. He was elected one of five Republican leaders in the House of Representatives during the 93^rd and 94^th Congress. He served on...