BY JAMES TARANTO
Wednesday, March 19, 2003 2:30 p.m. EST
URL:http://www.opinionjournal.com/best/?id=110003220
Tom Daschle and the Clinton Legacy
More than five months after Congress redeclared war on Iraq, U.S. soldiers are about to enter the battlefield. Not everyone agrees that liberating Iraq is the right thing, or a wise thing, to do, but that is now a question for history to judge. The political debate is over--or it should be. A responsible political leader, whatever his view of the conflict, would say something to the effect of: Our troops are now in harm's way. Let us pray for their safety, and let's roll.
So what in the world was Tom Daschle thinking Monday? Instead of expressing patriotism, the Senate minority leader decided to use the onset of combat as an opportunity to bash the commander in chief. Here's what he said: "I'm saddened, saddened that this president failed so miserably at diplomacy that we're now forced to war. Saddened that we have to give up one life because this president couldn't create the kind of diplomatic effort that was so critical for our country."
As George Will points out, Daschle's complaint doesn't even make sense. Will notes that the diplomatic "failure" consisted in the failure to win U.N. Security Council approval for an 18th resolution, expressly authorizing the use of force to disarm Saddam Hussein's regime. "So Daschle's position is: America is 'forced to war' because presidential diplomacy failed to produce a broader coalition for war."
Daschle's real purpose, of course, wasn't to make a coherent argument but to attack the president. Are we alone in hearing faint echoes of Bill Clinton in such behavior? Consider:
The permanent campaign. The Wall Street Journal described this phenomenon in a 1998 pre-election editorial: "Its premise is that, like Christmas, there are only so many shopping days left till re-election, so one might as well give political calculation priority in the conduct of one's public life." The effect, the Journal argued, is to produce a politics devoid of substance. A brief post-Sept. 11 show of bipartisanship notwithstanding, the old Cold War idea that politics ends at the water's edge seems to have given way to the permanent campaign even during wartime.
Triangulation. Some Democrats--Ted Kennedy, Robert Byrd, Howard Dean--have consistently opposed the liberation of Iraq. Others--Joe Lieberman, Dick Gephardt--have consistently supported it. But in the middle is a group, including Daschle, trying to have it both ways. Daschle voted for war, yet he's attacking the president. Ditto Sen. John Kerry, who, though more supportive of President Bush than Daschle was, still accuses the president of having "botched the diplomacy," according to the Boston Globe.
The meaning of "is." The brains behind the Democrats' "botched diplomacy" spin is Josh Marshall, who yesterday published a fascinating but disingenuous legal analysis in which he claims the French are right to say that America is violating U.N. Security Council Resolution 1441 by enforcing it in the absence of yet another resolution. Marshall claims America snookered the French into thinking there would be no attack without another resolution--never mind that President Bush was quite clear about his intentions in his Sept. 12 U.N. speech. And Marshall's hair-splitting legal analysis completely ignores Resolution 678 of Nov. 29, 1990, which authorized U.N. member states "to use all necessary means to uphold and implement resolution 660 (1990) and all subsequent relevant resolutions and to restore international peace and security in the area" (emphasis ours).
Is this warmed-over Clintonism really going to be an effective political strategy? It doesn't seem likely. Clinton, after all, was the president, an awesome office even when a petty man holds it. He is a singular political talent; when he triangulates, he makes people on all sides of the issue think he agrees with them. In fact, he's been doing just that with regard to Iraq, sounding antiwar in Bush-bashing speeches before American Democrats while weighing in with a defense of Tony Blair in yesterday's Guardian. And it's telling that Clinton's wife, who is now a U.S. senator, has been among those supporting President Bush on Iraq.
The Clinton style of politics was a product of the frivolous decade of the 1990s. The age of war and terror demands far more substance from Washington. We suggested Monday that in next year's presidential election the Democrats, by pandering to the antiwar fringe, risk going the way of George McGovern in 1972. Tom Daschle risks going the way of George McGovern in 1980.
You Don't Say--I
"Divided Democrats Concerned About 2004"--headline, New York Times, March 19
Hans Off
Are other Swedish-Americans as embarrassed as we are that Hans Blix is, at least for the moment, the world's most famous Swede? Here's Blix's latest: He said at a news conference yesterday that he doubts Saddam Hussein will use chemical or biological weapons against allied troops. Now, there are reasons to think this conclusion may be right. Iraqi officers may have the good sense to follow President Bush's advice and not follow orders that would get them charged with war crimes. America may succeed in destroying Saddam's chemical-weapons capability before he can deploy it. And, as our Brendan Miniter points out, the Iraqis may not want to risk gassing themselves in the process.
But these aren't the reasons Blix cites for his conclusion. He doesn't even claim Saddam doesn't have weapons of mass destruction. No, here's Blix explaining why he thinks the Iraqi dictator will refrain from using them: "I think it is unlikely they will do that because I think world public opinion, which they study quite a lot, is in large measure feeling that going to war is too early. So there is a fair amount of skepticism about armed action. That skepticism would turn immediately around, if they used chemical weapons or biological weapons."
So Blix thinks Saddam's chief concern is "world opinion," something even America doesn't care overmuch about.
Alone in the Crowd
The New York Times' Thomas Friedman is feeling lonely:
We're riding into Baghdad pretty much alone. . . . Here we are, going to war, basically alone, in the face of opposition, not so much from "the Arab Street," but from "the World Street."
So we are "pretty much alone." As Reuters notes, quoting Colin Powell, it's just us and Afghanistan, Albania, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Colombia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, El Salvador, Eritrea, Estonia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, the Netherlands, Nicaragua, the Philippines, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, Turkey, the United Kingdom and Uzbekistan.
That's 30 countries, and Powell says there are 15 more that do not want to be identified publicly. The Heritage Foundation enumerates 16 countries that aren't on Powell's list but "have publicly offered either political or military support for the war": Bahrain, Canada, Croatia, France, Germany, Greece, Jordan, Kuwait, Norway, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Slovenia, Taiwan, Ukraine and United Arab Emirates. Well, it's a stretch to count Canada, Germany and especially France as allies (Reuters reports today that "Paris had to clarify remarks by its ambassador in Washington that gave the false impression that France would join the fight in Iraq if Baghdad used chemical or biological weapons"), and it's true that American troops will do most of the work (with a lot of help from the British and a significant contribution from the Australians)--but even so, and contrary to Friedman, isn't it getting a bit crowded in here?
You Don't Say--II
"War Will Be Mostly an American Effort"--headline, Washington Post, March 19
The First 16 Surrenders
"Fifteen Iraqis surrendered to American forces at the Iraqi-Kuwaiti border on Wednesday," the Associated Press reports. "Capt. Darren Theriault of the headquarters company of the 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division told journalists with the unit that the Iraqis had been turned over to Kuwaiti custody."
Slate's antiwar worrywart Robert Wright beat the Iraqis to it. Yesterday he wrote a piece disclaiming "nightmarish consequences that are in fact not all that likely" and lamenting that such doomsaying is "setting the stage for a postwar public relations triumph by hawks." Wright's new spin: Everything that goes badly in the next few decades will be the consequence of Iraq's liberation.
The Times of London, meanwhile, reports that "masses of Iraqi soldiers are deserting and senior members of President Saddam Hussein's ruling family circle are defecting as the countdown to a British and US invasion reaches its final hours."
Battle in Basra?
"British and American troops were involved in fierce fighting near Iraq's main port today as the war to topple Saddam Hussein began," reports London's Evening Standard. "The firefight broke out near Basra as men of the Special Boat Service targeted the strategically vital city and the oilfields in southern Iraq. . . . The fighting reported at Basra was believed to involve British special forces and US marines in an operation to prepare landing sites for amphibious craft during an invasion."
Where's Waldo?
Reports of Tariq Aziz's death appear to have been greatly exaggerated. "I am carrying my pistol to confirm to you that we are ready to fight the aggressors," the Associated Press quotes Iraq's deputy prime minister as telling a Baghdad news conference. "American soldiers are nothing but mercenaries and they will be defeated." Reports had been circulating that Aziz either had defected or had been shot to death while trying to flee Iraq.
Dept. of Redundancy Dept.
"U.S. Denies as 'Not True' Rumors on Iraq's Aziz"--headline, Reuters, March 19
'Defiant' in Reuterville
Reuters reports that Iraq's "parliament"--the scare quotes are ours, naturally, not Reuters'--met in "emergency session" today to profess their loyalty to Saddam Hussein. Several "legislators" chanted: "We'll sacrifice our blood and souls for Saddam."
So, what adjective do you think Reuters uses to describe a sham legislature backing a dictator? You guessed it, "defiant."
They Don't Have Alleged to Stand On
The Associated Press headlines an Iraq timetable "Events in Alleged Iraq Weapons Crisis." Is that "Alleged" really necessary? Journalists are taught to use the word any time they describe a crime for which the perpetrator hasn't actually been convicted; failure to do so is an invitation to a libel suit. But the AP doesn't have to worry about Saddam suing. You can't libel a dead man.
Great Moments in American Journalism
A pair of professors, Allison Marston Danner of Vanderbilt and George Fisher of Stanford, scold the San Francisco Chronicle (seventh letter):
On Sunday, The Chronicle's Insight section printed an opinion article in which we argued that if the United States goes to war against Iraq without a U.N. mandate, it would be breaking new and dangerous ground in international law. We do not believe the headline The Chronicle assigned our essay, "U.S. apes Nazi rationale," reflected what we intended to be a measured legal argument.
Iraqi Official Defames American Indians
"While we were building civilization here in Iraq," CBS News quotes Iraq's Foreign Minister Naji Sabri as saying, "people in America were living like animals."
Everybody's Doing It
I. "Aid Workers Prepare for War"--headline, U.tv (Britain), March 18
II. "Airports Prepare for War"--headline, CapitalNews9.com (Albany, N.Y.), March 18
III. "Area Churches Prepare for War"--headline, Kansas City Star, March 16
IV. "Californians Prepare for War, Possible Terror"--headline, KGO-TV Web site (San Francisco, March 18
V. "Federal Agencies Prepare for War"--headline, Washington Post, March 18
VI. "Filam Boys, Their Families Prepare for War"--headline, Philippine News, March 11
VII. "Hot and Dusty Diggers Prepare for War"--headline, (Melbourne, Australia) Age, March 14
VIII. "Houston Leaders Prepare for War"--headline, KPRC-TV Web site (Houston), March 18
IX. "Investors Prepare for War, Jump to Safety"--headline, Reuters, March 17
X. "Iraqi Civilians Prepare for War"--headline, WFIE Web site (Evansville, Ind.), March 18
XI. "Iraqi School Children Help Soldiers Prepare for War"--headline, Australian Broadcast Corp. Web site, March 13
XII. "Israelis Told to Prepare for War"--headline, IrelandOn.com, March 17
XIII. "Kids Prepare for War They May Fight"--headline, Los Angeles Daily News, March 16
XIV. "Kiwi Pilots Prepare for War in British Uniforms"--headline, Stuff.co.nz, March 14
XV. "Local Soldiers Prepare for War"--headline, WISN-TV Web site (Milwaukee), March 17
XVI. "Maryland Leaders Prepare for War, Terrorist Attacks"--headline, WEDN-TV Web site (Washington), March 17
XVII. "Military Spouses Prepare for War"--headline, Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle, March 18
XVIII. "News Teams Prepare for War"--headline, Guardian (London), March 17
XIX. "Oklahomans Prepare for War"--headline, Oklahoman (Oklahoma City) , March 16
XX. "Reserve Families Prepare for War"--headline, San Francisco Chronicle, March 17
Yankee Ingenuity
A Los Angeles Times report on America's military strategy in Iraq carries the headline "U.S. Plans Lightning Strikes." Well heck, if we can cause the whole globe to get warmer, how hard can it be to summon a little lightning?
(Elizabeth Crowley helps compile Best of the Web Today. Thanks to Christopher Garrett, Marie Bourgeois, Bob Krumm, Barak Moore, Chris Fehr, Shelley Taylor, Steve Sturm, Michael Smith, Damian Bennett, Patricia Catto, Bryan Tyson, Jim Orheim, Pearl Ladenheim, Linda Cooke, Bennett Ruda, Chris Sorensen, Charlie Gaylord, Drew Anderson, Peter Rice, Michael Miller, Jerome Marcus, Len D'Alotto, Pat Rowe, Thomas Linehan, David Cushing, Michael Segal, Rosanne Klass, Joe Hancock, John Hartness, Douglas Welsh, Chad Carlson, Robert LeChevalier, Pete Freeman, Michael Zukerman, Dave Purrington, Jennifer Ray, Edwin Frederick, S.E. Brenner, David Cushing, Raghu Desikan, Jim Reingruber, Ted Villa, Chris Rudek, Isiah Cox, Monty Krieger, Donald Walker, David Beebe, Daniel Bendheim, Peter Gallagher, Brandt Zembsch, David Stern and Terence Brady. If you have a tip, write us at opinionjournal@wsj.com, and please include the URL.) |
