What's taken John McCain so long to come out and insist he get's a lawyer and 3 squares a day?
Seriously, though, this is great news, but it won't matter if Bush doesn't frame the debate and tell the public.
If he went on TV tonight and announced that the US had captured a high ranking commander of Iranian Special Forces who was their connection with Al Qaeda and the insurgents in Iraq, along with all the documents and information he was carrying, and that he is currnetly being interrogated and the US will be using this information accordingly, his approval ratings would jump at least 10 points overnight.
The public needs to be involved and needs to hear good news.
This is like capturing Otto Skorzeny or Yamamoto. This guy Chizzari, being the Pasdaran's man in Baghdad is undoubtedly extremely plugged in. It's almost as good as having AHmadinejad or Khameini himself.
Why does the administration just let this stuff go unnoticed and not the news out there?
Bush, or someone else, should be on TV tonight. Clinton or Reagan would. They knew to use the media to their advantage. Bush doesn't. Unfortunately.
To do so would require a response. Action. A stern missive. Anything but nothing. Clearly, the Administration would like to keep this all quiet, and hope it goes away.
True, but I have the suspicion that these recent arrests/raids against Iranians, which uncovered the intelligence, are part of a "smoking gun" built-up. I'm confident we could have done the same things a year ago. Something is in the works regarding Iran.
Why does the administration let this stuff go unnoticed?
Not only this incident but, many others. It's as though this administration is too busy some where else and, that all Americans should know this information on their own.
I agree with your post in that any other administration would use this information for their advantage. That being said, the White House says the president doesn't govern by polls, i'm guessing this statement proves that point.
Answer: Because Bush can't communicate his way out of a paper bag. I think he did the right thing in invading Iraq but we should have kept kicking A$$ and used them as an example to Iran. But Bush would have had to have had the communication skills to explain why this was necessary. Instead we were giving this "winning the hearts and minds" crap ... He's let somebody sell him on this loser of a strategy and his inability to articulate a firmer strategy is leaving us impotent.
His lack of communication skills has allowed others to fill the void with messages that weaken his presidency and our nation. This weakness undermines his ability to threaten any future military action against any of our enemies. And because of this, Iran will continue to supply arms and support to terrorists in Iraq without consequence. And Iran will be able to get their bomb ... Bush won't be able to mount an effective call to arms against Iran. Anything he says for the rest of his presidency will just be background noise.
I supported him because the alternative was much worse but for crying out loud, I've heard high school seniors give better speeches. I'm not looking for him to be a Churchill ... just someone that looks like they've attended at least one Toastmasters' meeting.