Does Bush Wag The Dog?

[heidi]

It is dangerous for an American president to launch a
military strike, however justified, at a time when many will conclude
he acted only out of narrow self-interest... Perceptions that the
American president is less interested in the global consequences than
in taking any action that will enable him to hold onto power [are] a
further demonstration that he has dangerously compromised himself in
conducting the nation's affairs, and should be impeached.

That's from the Wall Street Journal back in 1998, and it was in an
editorial they wrote about Clinton's bombing of Iraq that fall, just
before the House started impeachment proceedings against him. The
quote was one of many in an article in Slate Magazine
which showcased various "Wag The Dog" allegations.

So why do I find this so ironic today?

It's because of an article today in the LA Times which reports, "The
Bush administration will delay major assaults on rebel-held cities in
Iraq until after U.S. elections in November, say administration
officials, mindful that large-scale military offensives could affect
the U.S. presidential race."

Now, here's a quote that's pretty presumptive about the results of the
election - "When this election's over, you'll see us move very
vigorously." That's what one senior administration official is quoted
as saying - he said it under a promise that he'd remain anonymous. In
other words, the article goes on, top officials are untilling to sign
off on any new/further offenses right now.

But here's the problem with this delay - the reporter notes that a
"delay in pacifying Iraq's most troublesome cities, could alter the
dynamics of a different election: the one in January, when Iraqis are
to elect members of a national assembly. U.S. commanders are
scrambling to enable voting in as many Iraqi cities as possible."

So Bush, it seems, is less interested in the consequences for Iraq of
holding off on having any additional or new offenses against the
insurgents, and, I assume, the terrorists, than he is in maintaining
his own power.

Ya think the WSJ thinks he should be impeached?

Also, I'm now a security mom for kerry/edwards. See my statement here (about halfway
down, as of the now).