Gen. David Petraeus told a joint House committee today that, by and large, the surge has met its military objectives and that the security situation in Iraq is improving. And U.S. Ambassador Ryan Crocker said that though progress has been slow and the country is traumatized, a secure, democratic Iraq is still attainable.
Iraqis aren’t as optimistic. A new poll found that 65 to 70 percent of Iraqis say the surge has worsened rather than improved security, political stability and the pace of redevelopment, and that 79 percent oppose the presence of coalition forces (and 47 percent want U.S. and other coalition forces to leave Iraq immediately).
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
In the October issue of GQ magazine, former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld declares Afghanistan a "big success" because "28 million people are free. They have their own president, they have their own parliament. Improved a lot on the streets" — never mind the record number of Taliban suicide bombings this year, more than 100 as of August. Meanwhile, Rumsfeld said a democratic and free Iraq will take "some time and some effort." But he doesn’t seem to recognize any failing in his leadership. "It requires diplomacy, it requires economic assistance, it requires a range of things that are well beyond the purview of the Department of Defense," he said. He also finds fault with the public perception of President Bush. He "is a lot more intelligent and curious than people give him credit for."
Posted by Rhonda Holman
Former U.S. envoy to Iraq Paul Bremer doesn’t appreciate being hung out to dry over the ill-fated decision to disband the Iraqi army after the invasion. Several administration officials have claimed they had no knowledge and no input in the decision, and President Bush is quoted in the new book “Dead Certain” as saying that it was U.S. policy to keep the army intact and indicating surprise that policy wasn’t followed. But Bremer provided to the New York Times a letter he sent to Bush mentioning the planned disbandment and a response letter in which Bush expressed his “full support and confidence” in Bremer (though Bush’s letter doesn’t mention the plan). Bremer also said he had multiple discussions about the plan with former Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld. “This didn’t just pop out of my head,” he said.
Posted by Phillip Brownlee
At least some advocates of taxpayer-funded school choice may want to be careful what they wish for. New York City’s new Khalil Gibran International Academy is described as a “non-politically-motivated public school that teaches an academic college-prep curriculum and Arabic language,” but it already has lost one principal, been forced to relocate and inspired a commentary headlined “A Madrassa Grows in Brooklyn.” And Florida’s new Ben Gamla Charter School, which calls itself “America’s first English-Hebrew charter school,” already has had its Hebrew instruction suspended until its handling of religious content is assessed.
Posted by Rhonda Holman
Laws named for victims tend to win votes, but how about laws named for villains? Democratic presidential hopeful John Edwards recently suggested a “Brownie’s Law” to mandate that those chosen to lead federal agencies have the necessary expertise and experience. Edwards’ bill would take its name from Michael “Brownie” Brown, the GOP loyalist who was miscast as FEMA chief when Hurricane Katrina hit. Brown, whose reputation is still unrepaired since the storm, later responded: “John Edwards took one of the most hollow cheap shots that anybody can take,” adding that if the former North Carolina senator “wants to play politics over this, then he could have voted against me when he was in the Senate.” The real question: Shouldn’t Americans already be able to expect federal agencies to be led by qualified people?
Posted by Rhonda Holman
