Not only is it fair for President Bush to make this point but also it is late in coming. Democrats have been enjoying a free ride on this issue for years, and it's time they were confronted on it -- aggressively. These are the people who can say whatever they want about President Bush, Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan but cry foul when anyone even hints at holding them accountable for their recklessness.

They are rarely taken to task for their irresponsible "plans" to withdraw our troops from Iraq -- no matter what our generals say and absolutely irrespective of the deathly consequences that inevitably would follow.

Though Obama's pacifist armies object to characterizing him as an appeaser, he proved it again this week in his remarks to Democrats in my hometown of Cape Girardeau, Mo., in saying NATO hasn't provided enough troops to help us in Afghanistan because "they are still angry about us going into Iraq." Implicit in his statement was his opinion that NATO is justified not only in being angry at us but also in not helping us in Afghanistan.

Shouldn't we expect our American leaders not to defend NATO in this situation, regardless of its misplaced "anger" about Iraq? Shouldn't NATO's decision to help in Afghanistan be governed solely by whether it's the right thing to do? Shouldn't Obama be condemning, instead of providing cover for, NATO's dereliction of duty here?

The answer is an unqualified yes, but Obama's instinct -- in line with that of the entire Democratic leadership -- is to blame America first. That's not just a bumper sticker; it is the sad reality, proved time and time again.

If I were President Bush and Democrats accused me of labeling them as appeasers, I'd say: "Guilty as charged. And I'm just getting warmed up. And I fully expect John McCain to follow my lead. Let's have this debate out in the open. Nothing is more important to America's future."