May, 2007

May 23, 2007 - “It is too easy – and too partisan – to simply place the blame on the policies of George W. Bush. We are all responsible for the decisions our country makes. We have a Congress. We have an independent judiciary. We have checks and balances. We are a nation of laws. We have free speech. We have a free press, “Al Gore writes in his new book, “An Assault on Reason”. Then he asks the rhetorical question, “Have they all failed us?” The short answer is “Yes.” The American public was rightly aroused by the horrendous defeat that the American system of national security suffered on September 11, 2001. The aroused public wholeheartedly supported President Bush when he issued his ultimatum to the Taliban regime, deliver Osama Bin Laden or suffer the consequence of war. When the Taliban seemed ready to acquiesce and the President announced that their submission came too late some of us began to have doubts. We looked to centuries of history in which first one and then another imperial power sought and failed to subjugate the country. When we expressed those doubts we were shouted down and labeled as traitors – or worse, as Liberals with a capital L. Our free speech failed us.....click here for entire article

May 16, 2007 - With less than two years to go in his last term President George W. Bush has picked them man he hopes will take the blame for the conduct of his wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.  He is Lieutenant General Douglas E. Lute.  If his appointment is confirmed by the Senate he will rank as Assistant to the President and Deputy Security Advisor.  His unofficial titles will include War Tsar and Fall Guy in Chief.  Since January the administration has been mining the ranks of retired Generals seeking someone who would agree to be stuck with the newly created post.  There were no takers. 

eneral Lute will not lose his military position when he transitions between the Pentagon and the White House.  He will retain his status as an active duty military officer.  That fact is important for a couple of reasons.  As an active duty military officer, unlike the retired generals who have been offered and refused the post he was in no position to refuse to take the position when his Commander in Chief called.  More importantly his appointment does violence to the principle of Civilian Control of the Military and blurs the military chain of command.....click here for entire article