Category: Grave

Time for another round of “Who do you trust: your government, or your government?” After last week’s debacle concerning Donald Rumsfeld’s supposed cluelessness (wherein he challenged press reports from one day prior indicating that he’d been left out of the loop on a key Condoleeza Rice-led development in the occupation of Iraq), we’ve got yet another instance of government spokespeople contradicting one another a day after the fact. From within the same agency, no less.
The gist of this (admittedly, smaller-scale) story:
On Monday, there were several press reports detailing that a U.S. Army commander had received numerous intelligence reports indicating that Saddam Hussein was likely hiding in or around his hometown of Tikrit in northern Iraq.
Tuesday afternoon? Turns out that was “inaccurate”.
We do not have intelligence that he is and has been specifically in Tikrit,” said Maj. Josslyn Aberle, spokeswoman for the 4th Infantry Division, which controls a large swathe of the country’s north. “Because if we did, we would have the capability to act on it.”
Phew! If there’s one thing I’d hate to lose (including civil liberties and/or other constitutional rights), it’s my confidence in the U.S. government’s ability to locate tyrannical despots, and then obliterate them with cannons, tanks, and rockets.

Paging Donald Foster: Form Letters From G.I.’s to the Editors by Jacques Steinberg

As the field of 2004 Democratic Presidential hopefuls continues to combatively whittle itself down to a final result of what will probably be one forlorn, battered candidate, the contenders kept at it in last night’s debate, paying particular attention to their dogged pursuit of General Wesley Clark, the supposed pseudo-frontrunner.
Clark’s rivals were primed to attack the man who jumped to a lead in some national polls within days of his entry into the race last month. Former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean and Sens. John Kerry, Joe Lieberman and John Edwards took turns criticizing Clark, attacking him as a late convert to the party who can’t make up his mind on the war.
“Wes Clark, welcome to the Democratic presidential campaign,” Lieberman said sarcastically.
Next time, Wes, we suggest you shoot back with some rejoinder akin to, “Well, Joe, I’m still waiting to welcome you to the Democratic party, myself.”
Zing! Time to pile up on the “centrist” Dems!

Schoolgirls swoon as Bremermania sweeps Iraq.

Dana Milbank of the Washington Post has filed another excellent dispatch from the Bush frontlines, documenting the president’s two speeches to businessmen and military reservists in New Hampshire today.
The subject matter (“Bush Says Iraq Is ‘Better Than You Probably Think'”) is fairly amusing in and of itself, using the classic Bush methodology of lowering his audience’s expectations (anyone remember that tactic as used in the October 2000 Presidential debates?). But the real kicker is the unfortunate double entendre spoken by our commander-in-chief this afternoon (paying special attention to the word in bold type):
President Bush told Americans today that the situation in Iraq is “a lot better than you probably think,” as he sought to rally the flagging support for the U.S. occupation.
In twin speeches here in New Hampshire, the president kicked off an effort to revive determination to remain in Iraq, saying “Americans are not the running kind.”
Now, is that “running” as in “to run away from something,” or “running” as in “running or governing a nation which we conquered”?

American soldiers continue to die of violent causes in Iraq, as do Iraqi citizens and other foreign aid workers. Oh, and something about there being massive power outages and unemployment or whatnot?
Bear this in mind when you consider that news earlier this week of another three American soldiers’ deaths in Iraq ran on page A18 of the New York Times, and was more or less tangentially mentioned in another longer article about U.N. relations.
How we pine for the good old days of the early summer, when news of American deaths peppered the early morning papers’ front pages each and every day! Now all we get to hear about and discuss with our co-workers and family members is “$87 billion this, CIA leak that.”

“I said I don’t know. Isn’t that clear? You don’t understand English?”
Rumsfeld demonstrating the results of his court-ordered sensitivity training.
Rummy, might I suggest a movie for you to watch after church this weekend?

…Just some advice we thought it prudent to share with Republicans who steadfastly hate the “limousine liberal” crowd. Seriously, Governor Arnold can readily attest to the inefficacy of that (and so can Gay Davis! Har-har, you loveable residents of San Diego!)
After the GOP-led redistricting plan passed in Texas (the battle over which featured all those intra-state flight accusations and hotel hideouts over the past few months), Governor Rick Perry’s flack Gene Acuna snidely tried to dismiss the outspoken behavior of Alec Baldwin:
“Mr. Baldwin’s political views against President Bush and Republicans in general are well known and documented. I have no doubt that Texans will give the comments made by the star of ‘Beetlejuice’ all of the attention they are due.”
Come on. At least “Beetlejuice” was an OK film, directed by Tim Burton in his prime, no less. Go after “Mercury Rising” next time, and you’ll have us all on board.