In a very short period of time (really, inside just the past week or so), one issue of great importance has irrupted on the American political scene: Much less a contest about the Vietnam War-era record of the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee John Kerry, than a contest about his post-Vietnam, anti-war record and beliefs. This little contest, like the rest, will no doubt be contained in short order. But in the meantime, let’s not miss it. Or mistake it for anything less than what it is.