Bush should start by firing Rumsfeld

New York Times via Houston Chronicle | May 5, 2004, 10:31PM | By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN

[weegee]

We are in danger of losing something much more important than just the war in Iraq. We are in danger of losing America as an instrument of moral authority and inspiration in the world. I have never known a time in my life when America and its president were more hated around the world than today. I was just in Japan, and even young Japanese dislike us. It's no wonder that so many Americans are obsessed with the finale of the sitcom Friends right now. They're the only friends we have, and even they're leaving.

This administration needs to undertake a total overhaul of its Iraq policy; otherwise, it is courting a total disaster for us all.

That overhaul needs to begin with President Bush firing Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld — today, not tomorrow or next month, today. What happened in Abu Ghraib prison was, at best, a fundamental breakdown in the chain of command under Rumsfeld's authority, or, at worst, part of a deliberate policy somewhere in the military-intelligence command of sexually humiliating prisoners to soften them up for interrogation, a policy that ran amok.

Either way, the secretary of defense is ultimately responsible, and if we are going to rebuild our credibility as instruments of humanitarian values, the rule of law and democratization, in Iraq or elsewhere, Bush must hold his own defense secretary accountable. Words matter, but deeds matter more. If the Pentagon leadership ran any U.S. company with the kind of abysmal planning in this war, it would have been fired by shareholders months ago.

I know that tough interrogations are vital in a war against a merciless enemy, but outright torture, or this sexual-humiliation-for-entertainment, is abhorrent. I also know the sort of abuse that went on in Abu Ghraib prison goes on in prisons all over the Arab world every day, as it did under Saddam — without the Arab League or Al-Jazeera ever saying a word about it. I know they are shameful hypocrites, but I want my country to behave better — not only because it is America, but also because the war on terrorism is a war of ideas, and to have any chance of winning we must maintain the credibility of our ideas.

We were hit on 9/11 by people who believed hateful ideas — ideas too often endorsed by some of their own spiritual leaders and educators back home. We cannot win a war of ideas against such people by ourselves. Only Arabs and Muslims can. What we could do — and this was the only legitimate rationale for this war — was try to help Iraqis create a progressive context in the heart of the Arab-Muslim world where that war of ideas could be fought out.

But it is hard to partner with someone when you become so radioactive no one wants to stand next to you. We have to restore some sense of partnership with the world if we are going to successfully partner with Iraqis.

Bush needs to invite to Camp David the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, the heads of both NATO and the United Nations, and the leaders of Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Syria. There, he needs to eat crow, apologize for his mistakes and make clear that he is turning a new page. Second, he needs to explain that we are losing in Iraq, and if we continue to lose the U.S. public will eventually demand that we quit Iraq, and it will then become Afghanistan-on-steroids, which will threaten everyone. Third, he needs to say he will be guided by the United Nations in forming the new caretaker government in Baghdad. And fourth, he needs to explain that he is ready to listen to everyone's ideas about how to expand our force in Iraq, and have it work under a new U.N. mandate, so it will have the legitimacy it needs to crush any uprisings against the interim Iraqi government and oversee elections — and then leave when appropriate. And he needs to urge them all to join in.

Let's not lose sight of something — as bad as things look in Iraq, it is not yet lost, for one big reason: America's aspirations for Iraq and those of the Iraqi silent majority, particularly Shiites and Kurds, are still aligned. We both want Iraqi self-rule and then free elections. That overlap of interests, however clouded, can still salvage something decent from this war — if the Bush team can finally screw up the courage to admit its failures and dramatically change course.

Yes, the hour is late, but as long as there's a glimmer of hope that this Bush team will do the right thing, we must insist on it, because America's role in the world is too precious — to America and to the rest of the world — to be squandered like this.

Friedman is a columnist for The New York Times and a three-time Pulitzer Prize winner.

[weegee]

We are in danger of losing America as an instrument of moral authority and inspiration in the world.

I thought that the damned intellectuals in this world have told us time and time again that we have no business imposing our morality on anyone. If America loses it's moral authority, is there any change in our position in this world?

I have never known a time in my life when America and its president were more hated around the world than today. I was just in Japan, and even young Japanese dislike us.

I have never known a time in my life when so much of the Western world is so willing to embrace Socialism. The fall of the Soviet Union should have sounded the death rattle but Communism and sister Socialism continue to captivate nations.

America wasn't too popular when the colonies rebelled against the crown. America wasn't too popular when the Japanese decided to attack Pearl Harbor over American "imperialism". Lord Haw Haw told us that "Roosevelt's Jews" were dooming American soldiers fighting a war they had no point being in (and couldn't win).

Joseph Stalin and other communist dictators had no love of America.

I read the final book (compiled from notes) by Dee Dee Ramone of the band The Ramones. It covers the 1990s until just a little after 9.11.2001. "Dee Dee" was born in Germany but he realized at the end of his life that he had no love for Europe and that there was rampant antiAmericanism. None of this was the work of President Bush. Much of the venom he encountered was in the 1990s.

The presidency isn't a popularity contest.

[MEG33]

The NYT has the talking points,too.

[McGavin999]

Right, we should start punishing the innocent, that'll show everyone how great we are.

[weegee]

I also know the sort of abuse that went on in Abu Ghraib prison goes on in prisons all over the Arab world every day, as it did under Saddam — without the Arab League or Al-Jazeera ever saying a word about it.

Ahhhheem! CNN KNEW about torture and murder under Saddam's regime but kept quiet so as to maintain their Baghdad bureau.

The "revived" public Media Schadenfreude and and Media Shenanigans lists PING

[dr_lew]

It's no wonder that so many Americans are obsessed with the finale of the sitcom Friends right now. They're the only friends we have, and even they're leaving.

If he'll say this, he'll say anything.

[FairOpinion]

I would recommend that the author read this article, to get soem context:

Those Iraqi prisoner pictures ("MUST READ")
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1130504/posts

The left is just using this to attack Bush and his administration.

[rogue yam]

This is the same old same old.

1. Bush made mistakes.
2. Only the U.N. can confer legitimacy.
3. If we abase ourselves before the world other nations will step up and help out in a big way.

Nothing done by Bush or any other human being is perfect. That said, it is telling that those who insist Bush should admit his mistakes never say what those mistakes are.

Doing the right thing is legitimate. It doesn't matter whether this or that other country goes along.

Those who want us to succeed are already helping.

It's that simple.

[backhoe]

"Moral Authority," huh? They need to read these:

-The Access of Evil-- CNN's Duplicity --

-The Old Grey Info-Slut... the NYT/Jayson Blair Affair--

-When the Dungeon Doors Swing Open...--

[endthematrix]

"We have to restore some sense of partnership with the world..."

Tom's UN warm and fussy utopia dreamland.

[texasflower]

Bush needs to invite to Camp David the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, the heads of both NATO and the United Nations, and the leaders of Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Syria. There, he needs to eat crow, apologize for his mistakes and make clear that he is turning a new page.

Oh, please. Where do these people get this stuff?

expand our force in Iraq, and have it work under a new U.N. mandate, so it will have the legitimacy it needs

UN mandate and legitimacy in the same sentence. Yeah. Right.

How large is our military? A quarter million or so? Is it really right to blame Rumsfeld for the actions of 6 to 20 or so, to the point of being fired?

Is that part of the "code" in the military? This is not a sarcastic question. Would one of you military guys or girls explain?

[Finalapproach29er]

Thanks for posting something worthwhile.

[texasflower]

New keyboard please.

[Lancey Howard]

Bush needs to invite to Camp David the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council, the heads of both NATO and the United Nations, and the leaders of Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Syria. There, he needs to eat crow, apologize for his mistakes and make clear that he is turning a new page. Second, he needs to explain that we are losing in Iraq, and if we continue to lose the U.S. public will eventually demand that we quit Iraq, and it will then become Afghanistan-on-steroids, which will threaten everyone. Third, he needs to say he will be guided by the United Nations in forming the new caretaker government in Baghdad. And fourth, he needs to explain that he is ready to listen to everyone's ideas about how to expand our force in Iraq, and have it work under a new U.N. mandate,

ROTFLMBO!!!!

[Mo1]

The left is just using this to attack Bush and his administration.

Wasn't it mentioned in the Memo's from the Sen Intel Committee they would use things like this to attack the President and his Administration?

[Texasforever]

Is that part of the "code" in the military?

Nope. There was a GENERAL officer that was in charge. The buck stops with her. If her culpability had been swept under the rug then yes Rumsfeld would be negligent. That is not the case in this incident.

[agincourt1415]

OH PLease,.....Bush needs to invite to Camp David the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council...

Liberal Media GO DRINK KOOLADE

[BaylorDad]

The Houston Chronicle is no more than a Extreme Left Liberal Democratic rag. With no competition, they can get away with it. They spew their liberal agenda on the front page with sensational headlines and blatantly biased opinion laced "news".

So why to I subscribe? Local sports, non political local news, and the crossword puzzle. I think I am getting ripped off.

[thoughtomator]

The Thoughtomator NY Times Rule of Thumb (tm) applies here!

(check profile)

[nathanbedford]

the only legitimate rationale for this war — was try to help Iraqis create a progressive context in the heart of the Arab-Muslim world where that war of ideas could be fought out.


NO, NO, NO and again No. The legitimate justification for this war is and was the maintaince of American security.

Now Friedman wants to scapegoat Rumsfeld for the defalcations of a few so down the chain of command he couldn t see them with an atomic telescope. A review of this overrated pundit will show that he was an ardent enthusiast for this war. We now know it is because he fell victim to the terminal malady prevalent among liberals to order the world, domestic or foreign, to fit their model. Mogadishu is a perfect example of the danger of this virus when liberals have power.

God save us from this Wilsonian compulsion to do good, save the world, and build Jeffersonian democracy at the risk of American security. Friedman would have plumped for the League of Nations had he enjoyed the sponsorship of the Times in 1919. There is no salvation in the UN. No salvation in good intentions. No salvation in MEA CULPAS.

We are at war. We are not in a public relations contest. We are not in a struggle to make it confortable for Mr. Friedman at UN coctail parties.

We are trying to save our own democracy and we have not the resources to divert to schemes to build a brave new world that fits the left s model.

[weegee]

Apart from the crossword, you can get the rest of those things (sports and local news) from the local networks. I watch Fox 26. They have an hour long broadcast (although it isn't 60 minutes or even 45 minutes of real news). They do some of the same fires/shootings/car crash reports that the other local networks do but on whole I find them to do a better news report. I've seen WB39's news too (on rebroadcast) and it isn't that bad either.

Fox26 does have good breaking sports tips regarding trades and of course they report the scores.

I can't get the new local 24 hour news channel here in Houston but they also put articles from their reports on their website.

Dan Patrick is also putting together some sort of local flyer/newssheet which should be coming out before long. Maybe you should contact him about putting a crossword puzzle in it!