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Politics : Stockman Scott's Political Debate Porch -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: lurqer who wrote (23167)	7/24/2003 7:05:52 PM
From: NOW	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 89467

not incomptency per se, but idealism over realism. Bush has made it clear in all branches of Government, that what you know matters not. Its your allegiance to the neo-con mantra and the party. look at health care planning now in Iraq as a classic example.

To: lurqer who wrote (23167)	7/24/2003 7:11:55 PM
From: Sully-	Respond to of 89467

From: LindyBill I really raised my eyebrows at that "Poll" also, JJ. I start off each day with Sullivan. And my admiration for Wolfowitz continues to grow. Thursday, July 24, 2003 WOLFIE'S REPORT CARD: Funny thing: Paul Wolfowitz has the same impression of slow but measurable progress in Iraq as most of the informal and private emails and reports. Sure, he's biased. But he's also a brilliant and sincere man who knows how important it is to make the resuscitation of Iraq a success. Here's his assessment: The entire south and north are impressively stable, and the center is getting better day-by-day. The public food distribution is up and running. There is no food crisis. I might point out we planned for a food crisis; fortunately, there isn't one. Hospitals nationwide are open. Doctors and nurses are at work. Medical supply convoys are escorted to and from the warehouses. We planned for a health crisis; there isn't one. Oil production has passed the 1 million barrels per day mark. We planned for the possibility of massive destruction of this resource of the Iraqi people; we didn't have to do it. The school year has been salvaged. Schools nationwide have reopened and final exams are complete. There are local town councils in most major cities and major districts of Baghdad, and they are functioning free from Ba'athist influence.Some quagmire. He was particularly sharp onthe lack of internecine warfare. This anecdote amazed me: We had a very moving meeting with the members of the town council and a few other independents that had been invited. When it came the turn of one old Arab to speak, in his black robes with the classic gold embroidery and a white kaffiyeh with a black band around his head, he began to talk about how "it wasn't just the Kurds who were oppressed by Saddam; we were all oppressed by Saddam." He thanked the president and the coalition forces for their liberation, and I thought, "Okay, and now comes 'we Arabs deserve consideration as well.'" And the most extraordinary thing was, this old Arab said the Kurds were driven out of their homes, and they're entitled to their homes back. I don't know if that's representative, but it was powerful. He wasn't Pollyannish, though. Our inability to get the entire electricity grid up and running is deeply problematic; so is the security problem with contract hits being assigned by Baathist remnants. But the big picture is astonishingly good under the circumstances. Wolfowitz was emphatic, as we should all be, about the amazing work of the troops out there, in difficult circumstances, under blistering sun and constant tension: Everywhere I went, I found troops with heartwarming stories about the reception they had gotten from Iraqis and how wonderful it felt to get that kind of reception, and the sort of lingering doubt about "Don't folks back home get it?" -- and your colleagues might be able to help in that regard. But the thing that came through over and over and over again is, "The worst thing for us is uncertainty. If you would tell us we're going to be here for a year, we've got a job to do, it is a great job to do, it's helping Iraqi people, it's helping our country. We'd just like to have a date and work to a date." Sounds like he listened as well. I feel more optimistic by the day.http://andrewsullivan.com/