Arianna: What's That Sound? Why It's the Further Lowering of the Bar on Iraq

[babylonsister]

What's That Sound? Why It's the Further Lowering of the Bar on Iraq

Posted November 25, 2007 | 11:01 PM (EST)


In Sunday's New York Times U.S. Ambassador to Iraq Ryan Crocker was quoted as saying Iraq is "going to be a long, hard slog."

Sound familiar?

It should, because here was then-Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld -- four years and one month ago:

"It will be a long, hard slog."

This thing has been going on for so long, the administration is reusing excuses. But hey, at least the administration can now claim it's no longer hostile to recycling, right?

Even more staggering was the rest of the Times piece, which was part of the administration's quarterly Lowering Of Expectations. It's like clockwork: if there's a piece in the Times quoting unnamed "leaders" in "both capitals" who "continue to hold out hope", an "elated" White House, and mention of "positive signs" all around, you know the seasons have just changed. It's sort of like the solstice, only profoundly depressing.

What else did we learn this time out? That "with American military successes outpacing political gains in Iraq, the Bush administration has lowered its expectation of quickly achieving major steps toward unifying the country..."

Really? So we can all stop holding our breath about "quickly" unifying the country? I'd say the "quickly" ship sailed four years ago. Now it's no longer about quick or not-so-quick, it's about ever or never, as in: will we ever leave Iraq?

more...

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/arianna-huffington/whats-that-sound-why-it_b_74042.html

[pberq]

1. another reminder of the failure of the Democratic "leadership"

in Congress to put an end to his debacle.

[BuyingThyme]

2. I read it twice and it still said "Fuhrer."

[Joanne98]

3. They must be running out of lies. Recycling the old ones!

Maybe their "lie writers" are out on strike.

[gasperc]

4. wait, hold on, there's been a bar?

I've been under the assumption we've been digging a hole to China, literally, since 2003