Today's Hot Topics: Iraq; The Surgeon General
Withdrawing from Iraq: The WaPo accuses those who are advocating for a U.S. withdrawal from Iraq of engaging in too-wishful thinking. "The generals who have devised a new strategy believe they are making fitful progress in calming Baghdad, training the Iraqi army and encouraging anti-al-Qaeda coalitions," the editors write. "Before Congress begins managing rotation schedules and ordering withdrawals, it should at least give those generals the months they asked for to see whether their strategy can offer some new hope" ... urges congressional Democrats to listen to Ryan Crocker, the U.S. Ambassador in Iraq, who advocates against a 'precipitous withdrawal from Iraq on the excuse that the Iraqi government hasn't met a set of political 'benchmarks'" ... on the other hand, NYT columnist Nicholas Kristof argues that "when Iraqis are begging us to leave, and saying that we are making things worse, then it's remarkably presumptuous to overrule their wishes and stay indefinitely because, as President Bush termed it in his speech on Tuesday, 'it is necessary work'" ... WaPo columnist David Ignatius argues that the president and Democrats in Congress are "running out of opportunities" to forge a realistic compromise over troop withdrawal from Iraq, even though "there's an emerging consensus on what the final result should be."
The Surgeon General: The NYT argues that the Bush administration's attempts to infuse partisanship into the work of former Surgeon General Dr. Richard Carmona "would be laughable if it weren't so damaging to the public's understanding of important public health issues." The editors urge oversight committees in the House and the Senate to "look for ways to protect the position from future political interference" ... the WSJ wonders why Carmona didn't resign if he was so unhappy with the Bush administration's actions. "Dr. Carmona was not an indentured servant. If he disagreed so profoundly with President Bush's policy, he could have resigned. Honorable people do it all the time, and no one should take a job in Washington unless he is prepared to resign to defend his principles," the editors write ... USA Today agrees that it "does not speak well of Carmona that he accepted the muzzling," but admits that even "if his forthrightness comes late," it is still worthwhile. The editors argue that the confirmation "hearings scheduled today for his nominated successor, James Holsinger Jr., should focus on whether Holsinger has the backbone to defend science and stand up to political censorship" ... the NYT publishes 15 questions that should be asked of Dr. James Holsinger, President Bush's replacement pick for Carmona, during his Senate confirmation hearing today.
By Rob Anderson |
July 12, 2007; 9:59 AM ET
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Posted by: ghostcommander | July 12, 2007 01:17 PM
All three branches of government are sick men still dreaming of new imaginary adventures. How appropriate the Surgeon General is hushed.
Posted by: On the plantation | July 12, 2007 03:04 PM
No need for wrestling. Certinly no need for what would prove to be an extremely dangerous gradual withdrawal. The only dominant need is to get the troops out of Iraq and Afghanistan TODAY!, NOW!, IMMEDIATELY!!!!!!! Then we remove the despicably evil "w"/DICKY regime from power, put it on trial, and send it to a real prison. I find it very hard to believe that the United States of Arrogance allows DICKY and "w" to get away with murder and robbery.
Posted by: Ken | July 12, 2007 04:13 PM
Why are both parties now pretending to care about the Iraqi people? We showed how much we cared when we didn't commit enough troops or guard the weapons caches that were left for the terrorists. Now the weapons we gave to Saddam are being used against us--how poetic! Who did the neocons think would take power--the tooth fairy or a resurrected Davy Crockett?
Posted by: Joe | July 12, 2007 05:04 PM
The way out of Iraq is not that complicated as some might imagine. Let us go back to the roots and tackle the problem from the main stem.
The unlimited support of the US to Israel from 1948 till now has led to unmatched state of disappointment and despair in the Middle East, which in turn has led to the creation of terrorist groups who are ready to sacrifice their own bodies in a holy war agianst Israel and US interests, not only in the Middle East but all over the world.
What do we expect from a palestinian refugee who has been deprived of all his belongings and thrown out of his country to live in a refugee camp for more than 60 years now.
The way out of Iraq and Afganistan is to tackle and resolve the root issue, the Palestinian holocaust at the hands of the Israeli army.Once this issue is settled in a fair way to all concerned parties and under UN resolutions, the resultant issues if Iraq and Afganistan will definitely lose steam and take a turning point towards their end
Posted by: SAM | July 12, 2007 07:00 PM
When the people of Iraq say our involvement isn't working, I don't trust the analysis of the situation by anyone.
Posted by: eric | July 13, 2007 07:06 AM
How does the WAPO justify its stance on "wait and see what the generals can accomplish", they have had almost 5 years, longer than WWII to craft a solution, and now at this late date, all the "Bush" generals declare, we must have a diplomatic solution, there is no real military solution!
Bush has never considered a diplomatic solution in his entire Presidency, he has been led by the nostrils, by Dicky and Karlo and then left with untenable wars, is left with only 1 answer, give me more time. The entire country knows he wants to coast out his lame duck days and leave the war and all its consequences to the next President, who Dick and Karlo hope is a democrat, so they can start pointing fingers, hopefully from prison, at the Democrat and say it is his fault, a la Clinton did it!!
Posted by: Pepe | July 13, 2007 08:55 AM
Karl Rove has the vision of creating a permanent Republican majority. The Bush administration's infusion of partisanship in the Surgeon General's Office is just one of many examples of how political purpose has trumped public good. I believe Karl and Bush has severely damaged the institution of the Presidency.
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Stop crystal balling Iraq and let the chips fall where they may. I believe everyone will be truly surprised by the outcome. As everything stands now our involvement could last forever.