Review of the Sunday Shows
By: Mark Kilmer · REDSTATE
redstate.org
Rummy started calm, on FOX News Sunday but had lost his patience by the time he met Stephanopoulos on This Week. General Myers did well despite some bad questioning. We learned that the Government Reform Committee is conducting undercover investigations of sports teams, and Rummy explained the Old Europe/New Europe dichotomy.
Wolfgng Blitzer, strangely, has developed and outdated fixation with body armor. It must be the Kuwaiti air.
DON RUMSFELD ON FNS. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld was host Chris Wallace's first guest on FOX News Sunday, and he began the morning relaxed. Asked how many trained security forces there were in Iraq, something with which Joe Biden takes issue in differing ways at different times, he put his finger on "over 145,000 Iraqi security forces."
Fishing for an admission of some sort, Wallace asked the Secretary what one thing he would do differently if given another chance. This is the first time I've heard someone in the Administration state directly that it was a definite problem that Turkey would not allow the U.S. to bring the Fourth Infantry Division down from the north. That they had to invade from the south, Rumsfeld argued, allowed the Iraqi army to "evaporate" into the general population. The Ba'athists would not have organized and the dynamic would have been different.
Wallace asked him the old question about disbanding the Iraqi army. Rumsfeld repeated that this decision came from the command inside Iraq, and he personally thinks that an army comprised of majority Shi'ite conscripts with a Sunni command might not have stayed around regardless.
Wallace pointed out that Rumsfeld has been called "cavalier" and "arrogant"; then he played a series of labeled clips of quips from the Sec Def. It was amusing, and Rumsfeld was laughing by the time this had finished. Wallace asked: "Are you too quotable for your own good?" A chuckling Rumsfeld replied, "I don't know. Time will tell."
Asked to defend his "New Europe/Old Europe" remark, Secretary Rumsfeld explained that NATO had gone from 15 nations to 26: "The center of gravity shifted from 15 to 21. That is a new Europe." He said he didn't mean the statement to be denigrating. He further explained that only two or three countries out of the 26 in NATO objected to the mission in Iraq, yet people claimed that all of Europe objected. That might be the first we've heard it explained in that way.
The Secretary said that the Iraqis would put into their government whomever they wanted, but "we expect them to be mature" about respecting the coalition, of (not his phrase) joining the civilized world.
GENERAL MYERS ON MTP. Joint Chiefs Chairman General Richard Myers was host Tim Russert's first guest on NBC's Meet the Press, and we were treated to a pretty lame affair. After pointing out the time, money, and lives lost, Russert wanted to know: "What's left to be done?" General Myers replied that more security forces had to be trained, Iraqi governance and "the rule of law" had to be established, and there was more work to do on the infrastructure.
Russert pulled out a GAO preliminary report which claimed that the Bush Administration had been seriously overestimating the number of trained security forces in Iraq. Russert demanded that General Myers tell the truth (dammit). Myers explained that there are different types of security forces, etc., and he put the total at: "142,000 trained and equipped." That is not to far from Secretary Rumsfeld's rough 145,000.
Russert pulled out an old quote from Army Reserve General Ron Helmly which had the general complaining that we were in danger of becoming a "broken force." General Myers explained "Ron" was talking about the cold war army versus what we need today. "It's going to take us several years to get this balance right." Russert didn't press, so I assume this response was acceptable.
Russert wanted to know if we had the strength right now, while engaged in Iraq, to invade Iran and North Korea. (It takes a Tim Russert to ask such questions.) General Myers answered: "We can deal with the security threat they might pose." Russert demanded to know if we could remove their governments militarily. Myers replied that he was "very confident" that North Korea knows better than to try anything and see the certain end of the regime.
Myers explained that we "have to play defense here at home [in the United States], and offense where there are threats." I've noticed the President highlighting this strategy again of late.
MARTINEZ ON FNS. Freshman Senator Mel Martinez (R-Florida) was Wallace's next guest on FNS, to talk about Terry Schindler-Schiavo. The Senator said, "The judge in Florida [George Greer] has issued what is in effect a death warrant." He said that the Federal government had to intervene "to assure that her rights are protected."
The measure Congress will pass later not demand that the judge order the feeding tube to be reinserted while the federal case is in progress. Wallace asked what happens if the judge doesn't order that she be fed. Martinez answered that it follows from the measure that the judge would order to the tube reinserted pending the findings.
Wallace displayed quotes from Constitutional attorney Bruce Fein and another fellow explaining that Congress' action was a travesty, a disgrace, a usurpation, etc. Martinez disagreed, natch.
Martinez explained that they were "asking for the 14th Amendment to be utilized in a new and different way." I assume he meant the Due Process clause; no State may deprive someone of life, liberty, property without due process of law. He compared this to the civil rights cases (in which parts of the federal Bill of Rights were incorporated against the States via the 14th Amendment's Due Process Clause). He added that this must be a judicial action, not a legislative one.
The Senator averred that Terri Schindler-Schiavo, qua Terri Schindler-Schiavo, has not had "adequate counsel."
Wallace repeated several "GOP Talking Points," making the case out to be a political issue, a difficult one for Democrats. Martinez said: "I reject those, and I've never seen them before."
DAVIS ON FTN. The Steroids Guy, Chairman Tom Davis (R-Virginia) of the House Government Reform Committee, was host Bob Schieffer's first guest on CBS's Face the Nation. Schieffer indicated that he wants "tough new laws" and tainted records to tumble. Davis offered that "you can't count on [Major League Baseball] to come up with an arrangement that's... beneficial for the country."
Davis allowed that MLB will begin testing next year; if that doesn't work the way he wants it to, Congress will start passing laws.
Schieffer asked why Barry Bonds wasn't subpoenaed to testify before the committee. Davis explained that the grand jury investigating this matter had asked them not to call Bonds or Jason Giambi. He did not say why he had subpoenaed Giambi anyway, only to change his mind.
Schieffer sneered about Mark McGwire, the media's villain in this matter: "Was he too evasive?" Davis said no, the slugger had asked for immunity and was refused. McGwire could not say things which might hurt him in the future.
Schieffer demanded that tainted records be stricken from the books. Davis explained that this was "not within Congress purview," that it was an issue for MLB. (NOTE: Congress' purview is not on Davis's mind; rather, the artificial appearance of purview is what concerns him.)
Davis said that the committee's job was to shine the light of truth on steroids as a problem. Now we know why we have a House Government Reform Committee: to meddle in a catchall manner.
And Davis seemed to let slip that the House Government Reform Committee was conducting undercover investigations into Major League Baseball. He swiftly added that they were also doing so for other sports, but Schieffer was tickled to have news.
MANFRED ON FTN. Major League Baseball executive vice president Bob Manfred was Schieffer's next guest. This was the first he'd heard of these undercover investigations, but he was not concerned.
Schieffer asked Manfred what he thought of Mark McGwire's evasiveness. (He played a montage of McGwire telling the committee that he wasn't going to "talk about the past" eight times.) He pointed out that Dick Pound, chairman of the World Anti-Doping Agency, had said that McGwire's non-answers were a confession. Manfred responded: "That's the type of reckless comment we've come to expect from Pound."
Manfred said that the "federally-mandated process" of collective bargaining had made it difficult to implement a steroids policy.
MYERS ON FTN. General Myers again said that there were 142,000 Iraq troops "trained and equipped." The goal is 250,000, but that might change if the Iraqi government decides that it needs adjustments in various areas, he said.
The general said that acts of criminals and insurgents in Iraq "look pretty much the same." He mentioned the foreign fighters led by Zarqawi and the Saddam loyalists. There is no centralized command for the two, but they might cooperate from time-to-time in a "marriage of convenience."
The attacks are "trending downwards," he said, which was news to Schieffer. Myers predicted that "as we go through the year, there will be events" which trigger attempted violence, such as the seating of the new government, constitutional talks, etc.
He gave no dates for diminishing the U.S. presence, but said that "we're making progress to the time where we can begin to make adjustments." He's leaving the determination to Central Command's General John Abizaid and General George Casey, head of the coalition forces in Iraq.
RUMSFELD ON TW. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld was the "headliner" on ABC's This Week with George Stephanopoulos. Steph showed him a poll which indicated that the American people surveyed believe the Iraq War was an unmitigated disaster. Rummy discounted the poll and said he's seen others which report the opposite. And he listed progress. "We feel quite confident about what has happened in Iraq."
Steph asked him what was the biggest mistake in Iraq, a question similar to the one Chris Wallace had asked on FOX News Sunday. Rummy mocked him, saying that this was "the questions everyone wanted to ask." He repeated his answer about the 4th ID being allowed to invade from Turkey in the north, how that would have destroyed the Ba'athists and there would not be such an insurgency.
Rumsfeld said that General Tommy Franks had a plan which could have taken troop levels "substantially above" the 150,000 we have there now, but it was the general's recommendation that they not use that many, so as not to seem more like an occupying force. Everyone concerned agreed, Rumsfeld said, and the only ones he'd heard who hadn't were retired generals on TV.
Rumsfeld credited the Shi'as and Kurds for including the Sunnis after the Sunnis had made the mistake of not participating completely in the recent elections.
He wants to bring the 152,000 troops now in Iraq down to about 140,000 "in the coming weeks," now that the elections are over.
Steph talked about a Washington Post story yesterday about the army falling apart. Rumsfeld said that have 30 to 35 things in place to reduce stress on the military, they had planned for this. And that our troops are not nearly depleted.
Their rebalancing active and reserves as well as skill units. Steph argued that they weren't meeting recruiting goals, and the Secretary said that people were staying longer, they were attracting new people. He criticized those who do not trust the voluntary force, saying that it was "vastly superior to a conscripted force."
Steph asked Rumsfeld about the front page Washington Post article about the U.S. misleading allies about the flow of nuclear material from Pakistan. Rumsfeld said that wasn't DOD stuff.
Steph asked him if they were close to catching Osama bin Laden, and he said that he doesn't play games like this close, that close. "We either have him or we don't."
Steph asked Rumsfeld what he advised the President, and the Secretary said: "I advise the President of the United States, not George Stephanopoulos." He laughed. Steph didn't. There was a long pause when answering whether or not Rumsfeld had authorized any overflights of Iran, and he said that he didn't remember doing it. He'd have to check.
MCCAIN ON TW. Senator John McCain (R-Arizona) was Steph's next guest. Steph quoted Michael Schiavo accusing Congress of stepping on his private life. McCain replied that they were not trying to interfere in "Mr. Schiavo's life. We're trying to save a life."
Steph called it a States Rights issue. (Evidently not a life versus death one.) McCain said he did not think so. "It's a matter of saving someone's life." He stated that Michael Schiavo has the option of divorcing her.
"We have to come down on the side of life."
Steph brought up the GOP talking points, and McCain repudiated them. He doesn't want to make this a political issue, he insisted.
McCain said that he was "dubious" about hearings on Steroids, as he thought baseball had covered it, but now he saluted the House move. Baseball management and players, he said, we ignoring the good of the American people.
He said that baseball lied to him, and it didn't "pass the smell test."
GENERAL STEVEN WHITCOMB ON LE. From Kuwait City, host Wolf Blitzer of CNN's Late Edition talked to Army General Steven Whitcomb, in charge of troops in Kuwait, on the second anniversary of the invasion. Blitzer asked him, of course, about body armor for vehicles, from the December "townhall" appearance at which a soldier asked Sec Def Rumsfeld a (reporter's) question about going through junkyards, etc, for vehicle armor. Whitcomb explained that everything was now okay. When some vehicles are withdrawn, he explained, the level-three armor is often stripped and reused on new vehicles, thus the "junk yard" confusion.
Level 3 armor is an add-on piece of steel plating. Blitzer went on and on about level ones and twos, and decided that two years on, they're stil not ready. He quoted Rumsfeld out of context about the army you have rather than the one you want and posited that the general still didn't have the army he wanted, which would be equipped with level one or two armor, from the factory.
I was still following this, though quizzically.
General Whitcomb explained that the needs of the army have changed since 2003. Blitzer decided that the general wanted all armor at level 1 or 2. Whitcomb said that would be ready by this summer.
Blitzer asked him about personal body armor. Whitcomb said they had it. Blitzer asked him if National Guard troops had the same armor as active duty, or were they "second class citizens." Whitcomb said they received the same, and Blitzer objected because media reports have suggested differently.
Blitzer asked if the soldier asking the question speeded up the armoring process. Whitcomb said it was a good question, "but it did not speed up what we were doing." It seemed Blitzer was looking to excuse the reporter for planting the fake question with the soldier. If some good came from the fraud, the reasoning goes, then the ends justified the means. But the question did not have any positive effect.
The body armor questions had all been answered in the past and the premises of the reporter's question discredited. It was sad to see Blitzer dwell on this, possibly because the question is the only thing he remembered happening in Kuwait since late last year.
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And that's what I saw. I wanted Russert to ask General Myers if he planned to run for President. Which party? Not as a Republican or as a Democrat? So you're running as an independent? You're not running as a independent; does this mean you'll be running as a Republican? A Democrat? Socialist Workers? Definitely not Socialist Workers? This means you'll be running as a Republican? Is that a definite no? Do I hear a maybe?
Don't laugh. Russert's tried that with a four-star in the past. |
