The Bush administration's shake-up of its policymaking structure for Iraq was over- shadowed on Wednesday by an admission from the White House that Donald Rumsfeld, the defence secretary in charge of reconstruction, had not been consulted.
But, as it happens, I'm reading a lot less into this than most. I think it's a sign of maturity and seriousness that the game plan keeps changing when the facts on the ground are so fluid. Only fools and partisan hacks think that utopian plans can be completely laid out in advance. When it's safe for me to wander parts of St. Louis after dark without fear, then maybe I'll start to question what's going on in Iraq. Until all the neighborhoods near my home are safe and secure, I don't think I'll be expecting peace and tranquility in Iraq -- no matter how Big Media chooses to portray it.
Charles, putting Prof. Rice in charge is great politics:
1. She smooths waters between State and Defense;
2. She gets a bigger stature for future use - elections;
3. Months before the real campaining, a divisive but necessary cabinet member is made less public.
Sure the press will shed crocodile tears for Rummy, but what is the message: Bush is in charge.
The press is being played. Again. The public is getting used to looking through the reporting to the facts; and the administration is getting used to making anouncements and knowing how the reporters will spin it. So they announce decisions (that will play well) to get the negative press reaction. When the press over-reacts, the Administration does not even have to comment, the press attack loses credibility on its face. IMHO, this tactic will be successful because the press largely knee jerk every administration announcement with an attack on Bush, and do not look at the consequences of their predictability.
Of course I could be pollyanna on this, as a member of the VRWC.
Posted by: Steve Malynn at 11:16 AM