Many people (mostly Republicans) say (mostly to Democrats) that it's wrong to "politicize" thewar in Iraq. But politicizing the war is exactly what should now occur. To be precise, those who oppose thewar should politicize it as much as the Bush administration has already done. Politics is not just theactivity of politicians; it is a democratic people's chief means of making basic decisions about its future.Such decisions -- whether the country's foreign policy will be imperial or democratic, whether theconstitutional system will remain intact, whether the United States stands for or against torture -- are nowbefore the electorate. In any case, it seems clear from the President's speech at the Army War College on May24 that no basic change in US Iraq policy is likely before November 2. On the other hand, the entire directionof American politics is at stake on that day. To point this out is not to be indifferent to the welfare of thepeople of Iraq. For the shape of their future will also depend chiefly on the outcome of the election.