The word circulating around usually well-informed parts of town is that President Bush will be appointing Mayor Giuliani to a very prominent position connected with the war against terrorism. Director of the CIA and Director of Homeland Security are the two posts most often mentioned. Because the Bush Administration is fast losing points in the polls and the confidence of the American public seems to be waning, we don't regard this as mere speculation. The trio that is now most publicly and prominently dealing with the terrorism problem ? Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson, Director of Homeland Security Tom Ridge and Attorney General John Ashcroft ? haven't been able to get their act together and are signalling disarray and aimlessness.
This is not all that surprising since there is little in the respective resumes of these political appointees to suggest that they bring anything special to the table in the way of expertise in combatting terrorism.
It would seem that the time is ripe for the Bush Administration to put politics to the side and appoint the one individual who has shown he can get us back on track. And that person is the Mayor of the City of New York, Rudy Giuliani. His appointment as the director of the CIA or Homeland Security would not only bolster the confidence of the American people ? something which is now so sorely needed. It would also send an unmistakable message at home and abroad that we are serious and we are up to the job.