Alone Again (Naturally)

Dick Meyer has some typically astute thoughts on last night's speech. To wit:

When President Bush delivered his speech from the White House Library on Wednesday night, he was alone.

There was no audience — just a television crew, some staffers and the cameras. That was appropriate. Rarely in our history has a president made a speech like this — an announcement that a large number of American soldiers will be sent to a foreign war — with less public, political and international support. The president really is alone.

In war and politics, an essential measure of power is allies. Bush has few, and they are not powerful.