Ben Knapen

About the Author: Ben Knapen, editor-in-chief of the NRC Handelsblad, a Dutch newspaper, previously served as its Washington, D. C. correspondent.

The most beautiful war monument is in Washington, near Lincoln's Roman temple where, on the eve of his inauguration, George Bush was presented to the people in a heavenly ray of light, to the echoing falsetto of the Beach Boys. The most beautiful monument was concealed from view, in the dark just beyond the reach of the floodlights. You could only feel your way around it, which just one or two people did.

The Vietnam war memorial stands in a small, man-size excavation. The names of nearly 59,000 soldiers killed in action are engraved on the black granite stone, a worthy, modest reminder of the last great war. People visiting...