Congressman Conyers: Friedman on Cheney and Iraq [View All]

[cal04]

Tom Friedman just hit the right points in his criticism of the Bush Administration, and Cheney in particular, for their politicizing the mideast conflict with criticism of Democrats. The New York Times editorial pages are subscription-based, so I will just excerpt a few bits here:


Not only is there no honest self-criticism among Republicans, but — and this is truly contemptible — you have Dick Cheney & Friends focusing their public remarks on why Mr. Lamont’s defeat of Mr. Lieberman only proves that Democrats do not understand that we are in a titanic struggle with “Islamic fascists” and are therefore unfit to lead.

Oh, really? Well, I just have one question for Mr. Cheney: If we’re in such a titanic struggle with radical Islam, and if getting Iraq right is at the center of that struggle, why did you “tough guys” fight the Iraq war with the Rumsfeld Doctrine — just enough troops to lose — and not the Powell Doctrine of overwhelming force to create the necessary foundation of any democracy-building project, which is security?

Cheney's attacks on Democrats following the Lamont victory, and timed to coincide with the news of the London arrests, were a desperate ploy in an old Bush Administration playbook to raise terror concerns for political gain. Friedman continues:

Mr. Cheney, if we’re in a titanic struggle with Islamic fascists, why do you constantly use the “war on terrorism” as a wedge issue in domestic politics to frighten voters away from Democrats. How are we going to sustain such a large, long-term struggle if we are a divided country?

Please, Mr. Cheney, spare us your flag-waving rhetoric about the titanic struggle we are in and how Democrats just don’t understand it. It is just so phony — such a patent ploy to divert Americans from the fact that you have never risen to the challenge of this war. You will the ends, but you won’t will the means. What a fraud!.

Friedman's right. The Administration has never risen to the challenge of this conflict. But more importantly, they haven't risen to the challenge of governing this country. "What a fraud" is right.

http://www.conyersblog.us/