THE THIRD WAVE OF DECLINISM: Carrol Andrew Morse argues with Kerry-supporting hawks, and singles out Andrew Sullivan and Christopher Hitchens in particular, in his new Tech Central Station column.

Mr. Morse sees two options ahead of us: confrontation or, as he puts it, declinism. Put another way, he sees the election as a choice between two very different men: one who seeks victory over terrorism, and another who hopes to effectively manage the problem.

Sullivan and Hitchens think the election of John Kerry would force the Democrats to “get real” about Iraq. I agree with both of them. This would be a likely result. But toward what end? Victory? Or something less ambitious?