WTF Is It Now?!?

Quote
"The president's free ride is over."

"An administration rarely on the defensive since 9/11 found itself forced to explain and explain. When the president was asked in South Africa whether he regretted using false information in his State of the Union speech, he evaded the question and criticized 'attempts to rewrite history.' A bizarre response, because it was the White House that rewrote history by admitting that the president's earlier statement was now inoperative." - E. J. Dionne, 7/11/03.




Iraq Nam
A new kind of quagmire.

From Knute Berger, in Seattle Weekly: "[D]on't say the Q-word in front of Rummy. He gets even testier than usual with members of the press who ask him about 'quagmires.' In response to a reporter's question last week, he said, 'There are so many cartoons where people, press people, are saying, 'Is it Vietnam yet?' hoping it is and wondering if it is. And it isn't. It's a different time. It's a different era. It's a different place.'

"Yes, it is different. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't pay attention to the similarities. We are fighting a nonwar war against a guerrilla enemy from another culture in a far-off land as a hedge against aggressions elsewhere in the region and the world. Our troops are facing significant resistance from a minority of the populace that is hard to identify or corral. Our man in Baghdad is reportedly calling for another 50,000 troops to keep things under control. We have no exit strategy, the mounting costs appear astronomical, and the American people have been lied to consistently about the necessity and conditions of the war. Those who question the policy are smeared by the administration - note how Rumsfeld said the press is 'hoping' for a quagmire.

"Yes, Rummy, it's a wonder the Vietnam question ever comes up." ....meanwhile, there's THIS asshat....

Asked about the mounting casualties, Maj. Gen. Ray Odierno said: "I will never downplay Americans being killed in combat. It is a very significant sacrifice, especially for their families. But from a military perspective, it is insignificant,'' adding the attacks are "having no impact on the way we conduct business on a day-to-day basis.'' Good grief.