“The White House wants to appoint a high-powered czar to oversee the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan with authority to issue directions to the Pentagon, the State Department and other agencies, but it has had trouble finding anyone able and willing to take the job, according to people close to the situation. At least three retired four-star generals approached by the White House in recent weeks have declined to be considered for the position…”
Just what we need, another layer of unaccountable bureaucrats. Why is it Bush always believes appointing or creating another government agency or committee is the best way to solve imporant issues? I think it’s ridiculous and a style he employs to cloud his lack of effective and “comprehensive,” as he is so fond of saying, management and leadership!
What’s the difference between commander in chief and war czar any way? Sounds like another person to take the fall when the inevitable occurs and the war in Iraq is finally recognized as a failure by even the staunchest neocons.
Apparently, protecting Bush’s hide is the number one priority over our national security.
“The Commander & Chief” is an outdated role for any contemporary President. It was definately applicable to the likes of Presidents George Washington and Dweight Eisenhower. Those men were warriors, knew how to fight war, recover from their mistakes, and never lose sight of the objective; WIN! They also had the mutual love and respect of their troops. And, a greatful Congress.
Rumsfeld, Chaney, and Bush didn’t qualify for that role and haven’t done a good job of promoting and supporting those that do. I believe, had they listened more to Colin Powell, we would all have benefited from a more seasoned and cautious approach toward Iraq, Iran, and the middle east problems in general.
As I’ve said before, that’s all hindsight. The question is what do we do now? Apparently, the Whitehouse agrees.
I agree that this sounds like a set-up for a scapegoat. Now that the Bush-Cheney don’t have a Republican-led Congress to provide cover for their arrogant incompetence, they need such a scapegoat more than ever.
I think we have enough ‘czars’. I never liked the word as a title for officials in the U.S. government, anyway. It’s too redolent of an oppressive, authoritarian state.
I believe former terrorism czar Richard Clark’s testimony to the 9-11 Commission that the Bush/ Cheney/ Rumsfeld cabal planned the Iraq invasion before September 11.
I also believe that they perpetrated a hoax with the speech delivered by Colin Powell to the United Nations Security Council laying out the case for the invasion, as later asserted by Powell’s assistant at the time, Lawrence Wilkerson.
I have no doubt that Cheney used Powell for his nefarious purposes, and (as Wilkerson recounted), told Powell he would would be happy to see him “Fall on your damn sword and kill yourself.”
Who would want to be a fall guy for a sneering Mephistopheles like Cheney, and a smirking boob like Bush?