"the right thing for the wrong reason" ???

[nostamj]

from the NYT's Letters page....


What a difference a week makes. Last week, Tom Ridge, the homeland security secretary, made another dire terrorist alert announcement. This week, President Bush proclaimed that terrorists are on the run and that "America and the world are safer."

I wonder if these two ever compare notes.  

=============

I am not a fan of George W. Bush, nor am I thrilled about the way in which the Iraqi peace is being managed. But reflecting on the tragedy and the terror of Saddam Hussein's regime, I try to bear in mind that there is nothing wrong with doing the right thing, even if we do so for the wrong reasons.

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/07/14/opinion/L14BUSH.html

[gratuitous]

1. I saw that letter

The writer is from Toronto, a fact I found slightly amusant.

But his point boils down to "the ends justify the means," and is clearly not one, I'm sure, he'd care to apply to very many things in his life. As for applying it to an elective war, it's absolutely repugnant.