Am I the only who thinks this is a really bad idea?
No, so does Juan Cole.
According to the Post story, "U.S. officials said the battalion would be subject to rigorous conditions aimed at ensuring that the new unit does not become a collection of autonomous militias loyal to their party leaders instead of a unified commander.
"'They will have to leave their political identity at the door,' a senior U.S. military official said."
Hope is not a plan.
Speaking of leaving politics at the door, the steel spined president bravely rescinds the steel tariffs.
See Brad DeLong's brilliant economics site for his admiring reaction. Brad's all over the subservience of the press corps in failing to report on the never ending transparency of Bush's moves as well.
By the way, DeLong's cite was cited in today's WSJ as one of the best sites for trenchant commentary on the economy:
"An economic historian at the University of California Berkeley who worked with noted economist...Lawrence Summers both at Harvard and at the U.S. Treasury, Brad DeLong is at his best when putting recent developments in historical context. One particularly sharp posting asked how the U.S. could blow the prospects for a long economic boom and then noted that mid-19th century Britain lost its technological edge by failing to build schools for children of workers migrating to factory towns from the countryside. 'By end of the 19th century the lack of a well-schooled work force meant that the post steam-engine technologies of electricity, metallurgy and chemistry found themselves much more at home in late 19th century Germany -- where investments in schools had been made,' he wrote.
"Mr. DeLong...is a loyal Clintonite -- except when it comes to the former first lady. 'Hillary Rodham Clinton needs to be kept very far away from the White House for the rest of her life,' he has written, citing his close encounter with her during development of the Clinton health plan. His writings on President Bush's economic policies are often shrill, usually entertaining. A running feature on his site is called 'Why Oh Why Are We Ruled by These Fools?' He is up to part CCCXXVII," the Journal's David Wessel writes.
You need a registration to view the article on line, but Phil Carter provides links to the other sites mentioned in the story.
Speaking of Bush administration misrepresentations and the press' reactions to it, USA Today carried a story today entitled, "White House backtracks on Air Force One account".
"WASHINGTON -- A radio conversation between Air Force One and a British Airways pilot as President Bush flew to Iraq for Thanksgiving never took place, the White House said Wednesday.
"White House communications director had said last week that a British Airways pilot spotted what he thought was the president's plane and radioed, 'Did I just see Air Force One?' After a pause, an Air Force One pilot was said to have responded, 'Gulfstream 5,' which is a much smaller aircraft. After a long silence, the British Airways pilot responded, 'Oh.'
"...But British Airways said this week that there was never contact between the president's plane and the British Airways jet.
"...[White House spokesman Scott] McClellan said it was now his understanding the conversation took place between the British Airways jet and a control tower in London. Air Force One pilots overheard the conversation while flying over the west coast of England, he said.
"British Airways said it could not confirm the new account. And a spokeswoman for National Air Traffic Service in London said Wednesday that no British Airways aircraft was on that frequency and in that sector at the time."
The interesting thing about this latest story of gilding the lily of Bush's heroism, bravery, and devotion to the troops is that a search of USAToday.com doesn't turn up the story. I can't say the story was pulled down because I found it in the print version of the paper, not online, but...
No, so does Juan Cole.
According to the Post story, "U.S. officials said the battalion would be subject to rigorous conditions aimed at ensuring that the new unit does not become a collection of autonomous militias loyal to their party leaders instead of a unified commander.
"'They will have to leave their political identity at the door,' a senior U.S. military official said."
Hope is not a plan.
Speaking of leaving politics at the door, the steel spined president bravely rescinds the steel tariffs.
See Brad DeLong's brilliant economics site for his admiring reaction. Brad's all over the subservience of the press corps in failing to report on the never ending transparency of Bush's moves as well.
By the way, DeLong's cite was cited in today's WSJ as one of the best sites for trenchant commentary on the economy:
"An economic historian at the University of California Berkeley who worked with noted economist...Lawrence Summers both at Harvard and at the U.S. Treasury, Brad DeLong is at his best when putting recent developments in historical context. One particularly sharp posting asked how the U.S. could blow the prospects for a long economic boom and then noted that mid-19th century Britain lost its technological edge by failing to build schools for children of workers migrating to factory towns from the countryside. 'By end of the 19th century the lack of a well-schooled work force meant that the post steam-engine technologies of electricity, metallurgy and chemistry found themselves much more at home in late 19th century Germany -- where investments in schools had been made,' he wrote.
"Mr. DeLong...is a loyal Clintonite -- except when it comes to the former first lady. 'Hillary Rodham Clinton needs to be kept very far away from the White House for the rest of her life,' he has written, citing his close encounter with her during development of the Clinton health plan. His writings on President Bush's economic policies are often shrill, usually entertaining. A running feature on his site is called 'Why Oh Why Are We Ruled by These Fools?' He is up to part CCCXXVII," the Journal's David Wessel writes.
You need a registration to view the article on line, but Phil Carter provides links to the other sites mentioned in the story.
Speaking of Bush administration misrepresentations and the press' reactions to it, USA Today carried a story today entitled, "White House backtracks on Air Force One account".
"WASHINGTON -- A radio conversation between Air Force One and a British Airways pilot as President Bush flew to Iraq for Thanksgiving never took place, the White House said Wednesday.
"White House communications director had said last week that a British Airways pilot spotted what he thought was the president's plane and radioed, 'Did I just see Air Force One?' After a pause, an Air Force One pilot was said to have responded, 'Gulfstream 5,' which is a much smaller aircraft. After a long silence, the British Airways pilot responded, 'Oh.'
"...But British Airways said this week that there was never contact between the president's plane and the British Airways jet.
"...[White House spokesman Scott] McClellan said it was now his understanding the conversation took place between the British Airways jet and a control tower in London. Air Force One pilots overheard the conversation while flying over the west coast of England, he said.
"British Airways said it could not confirm the new account. And a spokeswoman for National Air Traffic Service in London said Wednesday that no British Airways aircraft was on that frequency and in that sector at the time."
The interesting thing about this latest story of gilding the lily of Bush's heroism, bravery, and devotion to the troops is that a search of USAToday.com doesn't turn up the story. I can't say the story was pulled down because I found it in the print version of the paper, not online, but...
posted by John at 5:45 PM
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