I've worked for four presidents and watched two others up close, and I know that there's no such thing as a routine day in the Oval Office.

How could any responsible leader have ignored the Iraqi threat? If we had not acted, Saddam Hussein and his sons would still be in power.

The Columbia is lost, but the dreams that inspired its crew remain with us.

Whoever controls the flow of Persian Gulf oil has a stranglehold not only on our economy but also on the other countries of the world as well.

Instead, the terrorists see just what they were hoping for, our unity gone, our resolve shaken, our leaders distracted. In short, they see weakness and opportunity.

Another argument holds that opposing Saddam Hussein would cause even greater troubles in that part of the world, and interfere with the larger war against terror. I believe the opposite is true.

We must be prepared to face our responsibilities and be willing to use force if necessary.