There has long been in existence a Science Fiction-Quasi Physics theory, that two worlds, identical but with slight differences, can coexist in a parallel time plane. In simple terms, we're talking about another United States existing in the same space and time as the one we now inhabit. In that other one, all is going well and we are not bogged down in a militarily un-winnable conflict (that we started) in the Middle East.

If that theory has any credibility, there could be such a universe right next to you in which that President Bush is performing in office efficiently and intelligently. Since that is not what is happening in this space and time, the universe we're in now is not that one. We're in the one where America is in big trouble.

The Socially Corrosive Disease of Political Partisanship

Events taking place within America these last few years, have come to a point where the minority population of thinking people must face a possible reality: Americans may not be able to handle politics. At the present time, we as a nation don't debate the merits of a candidate or political position; we instead, immediately take a political side (Left or Right) and then defend to the death our mindless decision. In this case, the resultant death is - The Promise of America.

Such a debate is coming front and center right now. It is a debate as to who is the better president, Bill Clinton or the present holder of the office, George W. Bush?

It would appear that when we were hit on 9-11, the psyche of America changed dramatically. For there are those out there who ardently feel that a leader can be and should be blemished, for eternity, for engaging in a private consensual sexual relationship and, most importantly, lying about it to the nation and congress while under oath.

This moral stasis formed the beginning of a new crack in the Liberty Bell that has come to political fruition. It has effectively divided our nation into Red and Blue states. On average, Americans now confronted with political, social or diplomacy issues, rather than thinking through their choices beforehand, choose instead a political stance reflective of one of the two major moral-political outlooks; Liberal or Conservative. And for the most part now bundle their fears, prejudices and national security concerns into the blind backing of one political party over the other: Republicans or Democrats.

The Clinton Syndrome

No matter how they try, the extreme Right and the Bush administration cannot get away from the continual comparison with the Clinton administration. Since 9-11, they have done just about everything they can to blame all of their failings upon Clinton administration via the well-orchestrated chorus of Clinton 'did and did not do.' The following is a sampling of these claims:

The Clinton administration did not take adequate measures to prevent 9-11.

However, we now know that just months before the attack, the then Bush Administration Security Advisor, Condoleeza Rice, refused an urgent request by the head of the CIA, George Tenant, to convene a meeting on hot warnings they had that 'something terror wise' was coming up the line. Her reason (after first denying the allegation of any such request) was that: he didn't specify the attack would be on American territory.

The Clinton administration did not do enough to capture or kill Osama bin Laden.

However, the Bush administration had him at Bora-Bora in Afghanistan, but let him escape so that they could turn their full attention to Iraq, a country that posed no immediate threat to America and did not attack us.

The Clinton administration diplomatic policies failed to stop North Korea from gaining nuclear weaponry potential.

The Clinton administration 'tried' to stop that tyrannical regime from building nuclear weapons with a well-honed diplomatic effort, and so did the UN. Clearly, the effort didn't work, but a failed plan or diplomatic endeavor is not an act of treason.

However, without the cooperation of the Chinese government on the use of sanctions (which they have steadfastly refused to give in on) other than a diplomatic option, what other options did the Clinton administration have? The same exact options that the Bush administration has now - even after a suspected N. Korean nuclear test. None!

For the Neo con-Right and the Bush administration, the question that begs to be asked should really be: If you so hate the Clinton administration and everything it did or stood for, why constantly compare your administration to them?

The answer to that question has to be they have virtually no achievements of merit or claim to call their own. In fact, in the face of day to day bloody carnage in Iraq, other than a call to "stay the course", the Bush administration appears to be bankrupt of ideas.

If that point is not adequately incredulous, try digesting this fact. There are a number of Republican members of congress who have openly stated that, even knowing there were no WMD, and in the light of close to 3000 American deaths so far, given the opportunity they would still vote for going to war with Iraq.

The North Korean Nightmare Becomes Reality

At present, the crux of their political thinking is to blame Bill Clinton's diplomatic policies for allowing the North Koreans to develop a nuclear weapons capability. Then they make a complete about-face and blame the uncooperativeness of the North Koreans for their own failures in this area.

They completely bypass the fact that the International Inspection teams during Clinton's term, via direct negations, made certain that no Plutonium was processed in North Korean nuclear facilities. However, almost immediately after the Bush team took office, the diplomatic climate turned hostile when they refused to continue face to face talks.In response the North Koreans kicked out the International Inspection teams, removed the monitoring devices and began processing spent fuel rods to obtain Plutonium. In essence, the North Korean nuclear bomb detonated was developed entirely during George W.Bush's term in office - not Clinton's.

At this critical point in world history, knowing what we now know as fact as separate from fiction and political partisanship, the glaring question has to be - given a choice, who would you want in charge now: Bill Clinton or George W. Bush?

The Day that Changed Our World - Forever

On October 9,2006, North Korean leader Kim Jong-il changed the world - forever. He did so by announcing that his rogue nation had tested an explosive nuclear device. Even though there is now discussion as to whether the North Koreans had, indeed, actually carried out such a feat successfully or that it may have been a failed attempt, the die has been cast.

No longer does the world harbor any reluctance to believe that, one way or another, these people are not bluffing. Sooner or later,despite failing missile tests they're going to succeed; they're in the nuclear weapons and weapons delivery business.

The big question is, what is a country with a failed economy and starving population going to do with them? That question can only be answered as to how they are treated diplomatically - from this point on. Possibilities and Possible Outcomes:

(a) In a country whose population is already on the brink of starvation, severe sanctions as to food, fuel and medicine, as well as the freezing of all of their international assets will only back them to the wall of reason.

This is not a good plan; trapped animals very rarely think rationally about how their own irresponsible actions caused their dilemma. What they usually do instead is to react - irrationally! With a million-man army (which their leader makes certain is well fed and cared for) they are close enough to attack South Korea and the 37,000 American troops stationed there guarding the DMZ.

(b) We make a good faith effort to use air power to knock out their nuclear facilities.

This is not a good plan: Unfortunately, we have zero reliable intelligence as to where they store their completed nuclear weapons. Attack and they will almost certainly counter-attack towards South Korea.

(c) We can put in place a naval-air blockade to prevent shipping into or out of their ports. This would prevent them from acting on our greatest fear, the selling or supplying terrorist groups or other rogue nations with nuclear materials and technology.

This is not a good plan: If for no other reason than severe reaction from their direct neighbors and suppliers of food and oil, China. China is not likely to go along within such severe measures against the North Koreans, and to have a chance of working any plan of action against North Korea must have Chinese approval. And it is highly unlikely they would ever go along with an American on UN sponsored military offensive. One can easily see their point of view.

Any major upheaval with in North Korea brought on by outside intervention ending in conflict, could easily sened a flood of refugees into China. Also, the Chinese like having the North Koreans as their default 'backdoor' watch dog; especially in the light of the openly expressed views that the United States may have to militarily confront China at some point in the future.

Meanwhile, this distraction plus Iraq will allow the Iranians free rein to influence events in the area, and the development of their own nuclear weapons systems. Oh, did I forget to mention a rapidly deteriorating situation in Afghanistan with a resurgent Taliban?

America is now, effectively, between the proverbial hard place of 'Iraq and the Korean Peninsula.' Added to which our military is stretched to the limit and (according to the military and GAO) by the summer of 2007, we will be coming to the end of fresh forces to throw into these varied conflicts.

What Bush Could Do

What President Bush should do is to form a Crisis Committee - one that is independent of and non-inclusive of any member of his current cabinet including the vice president. On that committee should be the following individuals:

George Bush Sr., Bill Clinton, Henry Kissinger, Madeline Albright, Jim Baker, former General Colin Powell, General George Abazeid, and two representatives each from the two major parties - none of which can be declared candidates for the office of the presidency. My personal recommendation for the two political party reps. would at present be: Joe Biden and Robert C Byrd from the Democrats, and John Warner and Chuck Hagel from the Republicans.

This Crisis Committee would be empowered to place all present international military engagements, either active or pending (like Korea and Iran), on the table for discussion and planning. The committee cannot convene for more than 30 days, at which time, regardless of resolution of agenda it must shut down. The members must each sign off on suggestions made and so must the president. The report of that committee must be placed in trust with the GAO and not be released until a president has been out of office for a minimum of three years. After that, it must be published and released to the public.

By this action, a president will know that if he does not act in the best interests of the country, but chooses instead to favor his political affiliation, at some time in the future he may be historically indicted by his actions as recorded in the Crisis Committee Book.

Of course, I don't really expect the Bush administration to give the slightest consideration to such a suggestion of a Crisis Committee. I think Bill Clinton and Bush Sr. would have, but not Bush Jr.

Instead, I fully expect George W. Bush to wander among the increasingly volatile and potentially explosive minefields of world diplomacy, or lack thereof, with a cigarette lighter in his hand, trying to decide whether or not to give up smoking.