In our time, freedom's consciousness defeated fascism and destroyed a global empire oftyranny. In today's world, democratic government is the norm, and dictators are a dying breed.

In a few weeks, the Baltic countries will formally become our allies in NATO. Today the Baltics are our allies in Iraq, where several Baltic soldiers have been wounded and one killed.

Review of Walking Since Daybreak: A Story of Eastern Europe, World War II, and the Heart of Our Century, by Modris Eksteins.

Bush's five-day trip is centered on the May 9 commemoration in Moscow's Red Square of the end of World War II in Europe with Russian President Vladimir Putin playing host to more than 50 heads of state. In the background will be U.S. criticism of Putin's moves to centralize his authority and Bush's support of democratic movements in former Soviet republics.

U.S. opposition to Russia's recent behavior should not rest on a desire to "punish" Russia but on the need to brace Moscow before its behavior becomes even more unacceptable.

The choice to invade Georgia exposes the raw disdain for democracy that drives Moscow's authoritarian government.

The next time the United States needs the "new Europe," we may find it has grown old.

Democratshave criticized the Bush administration for being too optimistic in setting its foreign policy, but theDemocrats in Congress aremaking thatsame mistake.