That wellspring of PR, spin and specious arguments, White House press secretary Scott McClellan, today dismissed as “speculative” a CIA report indicating the U.S. has turned Iraq into a breeding and training ground for terrorists.
This is from a news brief:
“‘The report confirms that we have the right strategy for winning the war on terrorism,’ McClellan said.
“Asked about the finding that the war had created a breeding ground for terrorists, he said, ‘That’s assuming that terrorists would just be sitting around and doing nothing if we weren’t staying on the offensive.’”
That simple-minded response is so ridiculous on its face, it’s hard to believe it came from a grown man, much less a high-level government spokesman, even in the Bush administration.
The implication is that we should refrain from seeing what we see, tune out what we hear and adopt the Bush administration’s disdain for obvious facts and common sense.
Sorry, McClellan, but the election’s over, the $200 million for Kerry bashing and convincing Americans we’re turning corners and winning in Iraq is gone. Truth is beginning to sink in again and, predictably, the press and public’s questions are becoming tougher and more skeptical.
What’s more, the president’s poll numbers are down and sinking again, especially when it comes to his blunder war in Iraq. About the time insurgents really increase the tempo of their murderous pre-election attacks, look for your job to get tougher.
When Bush hits Congress up for another $100 billion for Iraq, the fan’s going to get really nasty — as it should.
MSNBC this morning reported White House people are saying if half of Iraqis vote in the election,it will be a success.
Oh!pinion will top that: If half the Iraqis who show up to vote survive the election, it will be a miracle.
If Bush asks Congress for 100 billion, they should give him half and tell him to use it to get our troops out this year. If the Iraqis want a democracy they can start one.