E. J. Dionne: If All Else Fails, Blame the Democrats

[babylonsister]

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/if_all_else_fails_blame_the_democrats/

If All Else Fails, Blame the Democrats

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Posted on Apr 27, 2007

By E.J. Dionne

WASHINGTON—President Bush and Vice President Cheney cannot make the case that their Iraq policies have succeeded, so they are doing one thing they do very well: taking a serious argument over the future of American foreign policy and turning it into a petty partisan squabble.

This is not really an argument over the “surge” of troops into Iraq. It is a fight over whether we will make an open-ended commitment to keep combat forces in Iraq for many years, or whether we anticipate pulling most of them out within a year or two.

Even if the surge succeeds in a narrow sense—by reducing the number of Iraqis killed in sectarian violence in Baghdad—there is no guarantee that the overall situation in Iraq will be any better, no guarantee that Iraqi leaders will take the political steps necessary to end the internecine killing and create a stable government, no guarantee that we will make progress against al-Qaeda.

Although he conveniently appeared in Washington as Congress was voting on war appropriations, Gen. David Petraeus, the top U.S. commander in Iraq, did not play politics Wednesday in assessing the situation there. He spoke, rightly, of progress in Anbar province, a Sunni stronghold, but then added: “The ability of al-Qaeda to conduct horrific, sensational attacks obviously has represented a setback and is an area in which we are focusing considerable attention.”

The president’s comments this week were less measured. “I will strongly reject an artificial timetable withdrawal,” Bush said, “and/or Washington politicians trying to tell those who wear the uniform how to do their job.”

Let’s parse that statement. The notion that Congress has an “artificial timetable” suggests there must be such a thing as a “natural timetable.” But what would that be? Presumably, the president would reply: When we achieve victory. But what is the definition of “victory” in the murky mess we’re in? The administration offers only generalities that lead us nowhere.

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[Grandrose]

1. Great article!!

This is a great read and deserves a big kick!!:dem: