U.S. Grand Strategy and the Press (A Tribute)

A nation’s greatness is not measured by the amount and kinds of power it holds. National greatness can be known by looking at how the nation contributes to the greatness of its people and the larger greatness of humanity. Taking its measure is not easy. People define these things differently, and rarely deviate from their belief that their own ideas and actions are the most likely to achieve them. How is one to know which path is right, when so many are touted as such?

U.S. grand strategy has a process of quality control unique in history. Nearly every aspect of public behavior – from the most meaningless off-hand comment to the grandest of strategies – is available for public debate. Every nation has forums for discussing strategy and policy, but only the United States makes such frequent and noisy use of them. The United States has always been awash in opinions about the quality of its policy. This process takes place largely through the vigorous exercise of its free press.

The American press created its own role in political quality control through the efforts of early publishers such as Benjamin Franklin. When the Founding Fathers codified this in the Bill of Rights, they did not simply guaranteeing a right essential to liberty; they assigned a duty understood to be essential to national greatness. The American press has a Constitutional obligation to inspect the quality of U.S. strategy and policy. And no one met this obligation more fully than Tim Russert.

Tim Russert was made of this country’s best stuff. Tough, fair, thorough, and relentless, he reached into the river of political information to draw forth handfuls of truth and animate them for all to see. He strengthened his community, embodied his faith, and enriched the lives of those who knew him. He made the United States a better country and its citizens a better people. U.S. grand strategy lost a vital member of its team yesterday. The nation is weaker at the moment for his loss, but remains stronger for the contributions he made and the extraordinarily high standards he set. Goodbye, Tim, and thank you.