And these names, among others, departed the stage: Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. Slobodan Milosevic. Augusto Pinochet. P.W. Botha. Pierre Amire Gemayel. Jeane Kirkpatrick. Coretta Scott King. Milton Friedman. James Van Allen. Caspar Weinberger. Betty Friedan and Mickey Spillane. Byron Nelson and Red Auerbach. John Kenneth Galbraith and Kenneth “Kenny Boy” Lay. Jack Palance and James Brown. Hundreds of Americans fighting for liberty and thousands of Iraqis, et al.

XXX

If a symbol exists for 2006, perhaps it is a noose — or the prospect of one — not only to concentrate Saddam’s mind but the West’s.

Corruption and Iraq — and an irresolute electorate — have changed the partisan complexion of Congress. Will Iraq now be exploited in the American conscience to secure our defeat there — and more broadly the defeat of the West in World War IV, wherein jihadists seek a worldwide caliphate under the scimitar?

In formulating its answer, this nation now embarks on determining its fate. The question is framed in these ways: (1) Press on or withdraw? (2) Persuade more Western allies to join the enterprise, or not? (3) Send more troops, and if so (a) how many, (b) for how long, (c) who will they be, and (d) whence will they come? We cannot send troops we do not have. Nor can we call yet again upon those (too many of them Guardsmen and Reservists) who already have served in the war zone too long and too many times. Will the government institutionalize universal service for the young to generate military manpower and to instill the sense of sacrifice broadly that success in war requires? Will it dramatically increase pay, benefits and other encouragements for volunteer enlistment? Will it restore a draft?

2006 concentrated the public mind — put the question, dangled the noose out there before a country, a culture, enervated and effete; 2007 and 2008, with their debates and elections, will provide the answer. We speak here of the future of the United States and of free people everywhere — of what the realm of liberty, long term, will be. Edmund Burke said it well: The true danger is when liberty is nibbled away, for expedients and by parts. If liberty is the ultimate cause, then in answering the questions posed in the year now ending, America and the West will rally around the only salvational response.