Cohen Criticizes "Wag the Dog" Characterization

[kskiska]

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Former Defense Secretary William Cohen on Tuesday defended President Clinton's use of the military to protect national security interests, returning to a sharp GOP-led criticism of Clinton at a time when he was embroiled in the Monica Lewinsky scandal.

At that time, some GOP lawmakers used the phrase "wag the dog" to describe Clinton's military actions, saying he was using conflicts abroad to deflect attention from the domestic scandal. A movie of the same name came out in 1997, and the plot involves a presidential administration that launches a war as a political ploy.

(snip)

Clinton came under intense criticism in 1998 by the GOP after he launched an attack on suspected terrorist targets in Afghanistan and Sudan. Intelligence indicated bin Laden and his top associates were meeting at a training camp when U.S. missiles were fired at it, just weeks after al Qaeda terrorists bombed U.S. embassies in Tanzania and Kenya.

The attack was launched on the same day Lewinsky, a former White House intern, wrapped up her testimony before a grand jury investigating whether Clinton lied under oath about their relationship or encouraged anyone else to do so.

more…
http://www.cnn.com/2004/ALLPOLITICS/03/23/wag.dog/

[tlcandie]

1. Well, now it certainly IS true because this admin has an actual poodle

to wag!

[BootinUp]

2. Take that scumbags!

no other comment necessary.

[sadiesworld]

3. He was the big surprise of the day for me

Figured he couldn't deep six Clinton without frying his own patoot... but thought he might try. (How will Cohen and Clark get along in the Kerry administration?)

[JI7]

6. cohen's wife is a democrat

and bill clinton likes her very much. cohen married her while he was serving in the clinton administration. hopefully she taught him a few things and he is a better person for it.

[Old and In the Way]

9. Cohen is an honorable guy.......I'd trust Cohen over 95% of the pols

in Congress today. He was my Rep/Senator. He was one of the few Republicans in the House to vote Nixon's impeachment out of committee.

It would be interesting to see if Kerry would bring him into his administration. They were good friends in the senate.

[Gloria]

4. Good for Cohen. Meanwhile, Woolsey is smirking his way around the

tube, tonight it was on Lou Dobbs and he slammed Clarke.

[LeighAnn]

5. CNN- August 20, 1998

http://www.cnn.com/ALLPOLITICS/1998/08/20/strike.react/index.html

"Most Lawmakers Support Clinton's Military Strikes
But some Republicans raise questions about the timing of anti-terrorist attacks"

[Eye and Monkey]

7. "House Speaker Newt Gingrich quickly sided with the adminstration"

"We have every reason to believe that this terrorist organization will try to hurt other Americans," Gingrich said.

Other key members of Congress also quickly voiced their approval for the decisive military action, including Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott (R-Miss.), House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-Texas), House Minority Leader Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.), and Sens. Jesse Helms (R-N.C.), Wayne Allard (R-Colo.) and Orrin Hatch (R-Utah).

"But a handful of lawmakers criticized the president's timing. Sens. Dan Coats (R-Ind.) and Arlen Specter (R-Pa.) swiftly voiced concern that Clinton might have acted to divert public attention from his personal problems related to the Monica Lewinsky sex scandal"

"This administration, for the last seven months, has neglected compelling national security threats besides this," McCain said, citing Iraq, North Korea, the Middle East and Kosovo. "I hope the president will not confine his activities to just this, but ... address the other very compelling problems that also affect our nation's security interests longterm."


* from the cited article

[Sugarbleus]

8. These neo fascists are making me very sick!!!!!

I'm so disgusted with the republican party that I've decided I won't conduct business with anyone that is one.!! Doctors, lawyers, etc.

:kick:

[UpInArms]

12. my family made that decision

in March 2001 -

we have checked out every source to see which political party they support and have changed banks, material suppliers, grocers, veterinarians, etc.

It makes me know that every dollar I spend goes away from the pukes. :)

[Layman]

13. Consumer Strikes Back

I salute your dedication and scrupulousness. Personaly I think a focused and dedicated consumer movement set up like you describe your actions would be very effective tool for the left. Demonstrations and surfing though, are more fun and hip and alas we end up just preaching to the choir. Perhaps you could start a thread on the idea and see what kind of D.U. feedback you got.

[Dr Fate]

10. Repugs were distracting the US from Terror with sex scandals...

These Republicans have twisted priorities...

A sex scandal more important than fighting terrorism?

[maddezmom]

11. it is ironic, isn't it?

:crazy: