Echo2
09-20-2004, 12:35 PM
Hawkish 'Washington Post' Hits Bush on Iraq
By E&P Staff
Published: September 19, 2004 10:02 PM EST
NEW YORK In a surprise that could influence editorial pages of other newspapers, not to mention the current presidential contest, The Washington Post, which has been hawkish on Iraq since before the war, has accused President Bush of being "bland to the point of dishonesty" in his recent comments on the deteriorating situation in Iraq.
"Not only has Mr. Bush not said how, or whether, he intends to respond to the worsening situation, he doesn't really admit it exists .... This duck-and-cover strategy may have its political advantages, but it is also deeply irresponsible and potentially dangerous," the Post declared on Sunday.
Leading Republican senators John McCain and Chuck Hagel also hit the President's Iraq policies on Sunday talk shows.
Washington Post editors recently admitted that in their news pages they offered an imbalanced view of the Iraq threat in the months before the U.S. invasion, but the paper's influential editorial page has until recently remained staunchly behind the President on this issue.
But on Sunday the Post declared: "'Grand illusions' have too often guided Mr. Bush in Iraq. We believed the president was right to confront the threat posed by Saddam Hussein, and like the vast majority of Iraqis, we welcomed the removal of that murderous regime." But the paper added that Bush's record is "one of courage in setting goals and steadfastness in sticking to them but also one of extraordinary recklessness and incompetence in execution ...
"Now he tells voters he will stay the course; the way to make that promise convincing is to be honest with Americans about the challenge he now faces -- and to lay out a realistic response to it ...
"Too often American soldiers and commanders have been flung into the breach between illusion and reality. Many have responded with great courage and creativity, and they can point to many accomplishments that receive little attention back home. But more than 1,000 have died, thousands more as well have paid a terrible cost and no end to these losses is in sight."
Sen. Hagel (R-Neb) said on Sunday, "The fact is, we're in deep trouble in Iraq ... and I think we're going to have to look at some recalibration of policy."
"We made serious mistakes," said Sen. McCain (R-Ariz).
By E&P Staff
Published: September 19, 2004 10:02 PM EST
NEW YORK In a surprise that could influence editorial pages of other newspapers, not to mention the current presidential contest, The Washington Post, which has been hawkish on Iraq since before the war, has accused President Bush of being "bland to the point of dishonesty" in his recent comments on the deteriorating situation in Iraq.
"Not only has Mr. Bush not said how, or whether, he intends to respond to the worsening situation, he doesn't really admit it exists .... This duck-and-cover strategy may have its political advantages, but it is also deeply irresponsible and potentially dangerous," the Post declared on Sunday.
Leading Republican senators John McCain and Chuck Hagel also hit the President's Iraq policies on Sunday talk shows.
Washington Post editors recently admitted that in their news pages they offered an imbalanced view of the Iraq threat in the months before the U.S. invasion, but the paper's influential editorial page has until recently remained staunchly behind the President on this issue.
But on Sunday the Post declared: "'Grand illusions' have too often guided Mr. Bush in Iraq. We believed the president was right to confront the threat posed by Saddam Hussein, and like the vast majority of Iraqis, we welcomed the removal of that murderous regime." But the paper added that Bush's record is "one of courage in setting goals and steadfastness in sticking to them but also one of extraordinary recklessness and incompetence in execution ...
"Now he tells voters he will stay the course; the way to make that promise convincing is to be honest with Americans about the challenge he now faces -- and to lay out a realistic response to it ...
"Too often American soldiers and commanders have been flung into the breach between illusion and reality. Many have responded with great courage and creativity, and they can point to many accomplishments that receive little attention back home. But more than 1,000 have died, thousands more as well have paid a terrible cost and no end to these losses is in sight."
Sen. Hagel (R-Neb) said on Sunday, "The fact is, we're in deep trouble in Iraq ... and I think we're going to have to look at some recalibration of policy."
"We made serious mistakes," said Sen. McCain (R-Ariz).