Reading the C&F commentary, one sees the comment that Bush sees the current unpleasantness as a war, while Kerry sees it as criminality.

One of the most perceptive commentators is the frenchman Roger Trinquier, who wrote "Modern War" in the early 60's. As he says, a key strategic technique of modern war is to make the world see the same conflict as war on one side and as crime on the other.

That is, I claim the right to slaughter any targets I can, because I am at war, but demand all the rights of a criminal defendant (including no pre-emptive spoiling attacks by my opponent).

Kerry's playing into a 50-year old tactic that Bush has (finally) seen through. Some people wake up faster than others.