Timing is Everything
Dear Editor:
What an amazing coincidence of timing.
Up until this week, the administration, led by President Bush, have admitted no mistakes or miscalculations in the planning of the war in Iraq, for the recovery of that country, or for an exit plan that would allow our troops to come home. Even during the presidential campaign, Mr. Bush, during one of the debates, claimed he could not think of any mistakes he had made.
Now the election is over. Suddenly, Condoleeza Rice, in her appearance before the Senate committee looking into her nomination as Secretary of State, admits that there had been miscalculations and mistakes in the planning of the war and its aftermath. Today, January 20th, after he was sworn in as Vice President for a second term, Dick Cheney said that he had overestimated the pace of Iraq’s recovery from the U.S. led invasion because he didn’t realize the lasting devastation wrought by Saddam Hussein on his people after the first Gulf War. Not until after Saddam was ousted did the United States realize the extent of the Iraqi leader’s brutality in putting down revolt in 1991, Cheney said. On the Don Imus Show on radio he said, “I would chalk that one up as a miscalculation, where I thought things would have recovered more quickly.”
Isn’t that wonderful! Now after all the poor decisions, or out and out lies, and after the campaign, he suddenly realizes and admits to “miscalculations and mistakes.” After 1,365 American service deaths and tens of thousands of American service casualties, and untold Iraqi deaths and destruction, he calmly and innocently admits to mistakes. He’s free and clear.
According to Mr. Cheney’s own words, who is responsible? Not him. It’s the fault of Saddam Hussein. How’s that for taking responsibility? Even when he admits “mistakes and miscalculations” it’s someone else’s fault. Even my three year old grandson wouldn’t try that.
What an amazing coincidence of timing.
Up until this week, the administration, led by President Bush, have admitted no mistakes or miscalculations in the planning of the war in Iraq, for the recovery of that country, or for an exit plan that would allow our troops to come home. Even during the presidential campaign, Mr. Bush, during one of the debates, claimed he could not think of any mistakes he had made.
Now the election is over. Suddenly, Condoleeza Rice, in her appearance before the Senate committee looking into her nomination as Secretary of State, admits that there had been miscalculations and mistakes in the planning of the war and its aftermath. Today, January 20th, after he was sworn in as Vice President for a second term, Dick Cheney said that he had overestimated the pace of Iraq’s recovery from the U.S. led invasion because he didn’t realize the lasting devastation wrought by Saddam Hussein on his people after the first Gulf War. Not until after Saddam was ousted did the United States realize the extent of the Iraqi leader’s brutality in putting down revolt in 1991, Cheney said. On the Don Imus Show on radio he said, “I would chalk that one up as a miscalculation, where I thought things would have recovered more quickly.”
Isn’t that wonderful! Now after all the poor decisions, or out and out lies, and after the campaign, he suddenly realizes and admits to “miscalculations and mistakes.” After 1,365 American service deaths and tens of thousands of American service casualties, and untold Iraqi deaths and destruction, he calmly and innocently admits to mistakes. He’s free and clear.
According to Mr. Cheney’s own words, who is responsible? Not him. It’s the fault of Saddam Hussein. How’s that for taking responsibility? Even when he admits “mistakes and miscalculations” it’s someone else’s fault. Even my three year old grandson wouldn’t try that.
posted by Sam Schoolsky | 5:25 PM
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