Courage, it has been remarked, is not the absence of fear and doubt. It is the capacity to overcome fear and doubt and to act. We were thinking of that principle as we listened to Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney declare her intention to vote in the House in support of a war resolution. Mrs. Maloney’s entire career has been marked by a kind of personal courage. It was thrown into sharp relief yesterday as she remembered her brother, who had served with the 101st Airborne Division in Vietnam, speaking of seeing his friends get “machine-gunned down.” Such experience, combined with the seriousness of the decision she was making, brought forth tears in the Congress. We also thought Nita Lowey offered some moving remarks. The two women, liberals both, made it clear they would be voting for war with many doubts, preferably in league with the United Nations and other countries, and only as a last resort.

In a way these two New York solons are ciphers for the entire country. Few Americans, hawk nor dove, are under the illusion that a military action against Iraq will be easy. Few are expecting to get through the war, if it comes, with the kind of limited casualties experienced in the Gulf War of 1991. All recognize that the Bush Doctrine as it is emerging reflects a new, more daring approach to the nations that threaten us. All understand that there are enormous risks. All the more impressive is the courage being shown by those congressmen and congresswomen who are facing down their own fears and doubts as they conclude that the greater risks lies with inaction. The vote will not be complete for some days now, but we are already seeing memorable moments as this history unfolds.