Bush administration:If only...a genie that spreads harmony across the land

[dajoki]

WP
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/03/AR2006040301713.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns

Once Upon a Time In Baghdad . . .

By Eugene Robinson
Tuesday, April 4, 2006

"If only . . . " used to be nothing more than the wish of a fairy tale protagonist who was out of options, as in "If only a handsome prince would arrive and save the day," or "If only a brave huntsman would happen by and perform some Abu Ghraib-style interrogation on this big, bad wolf that just ate Grandma." Now, thanks to George W. Bush and his court of wizards, "if only . . . " is also a subtle yet comprehensive strategy for war-fighting, insurgency-quashing, nation-building and all the other urgent business they've bungled in Iraq.

Condoleezza Rice made a surprise trip to Baghdad over the weekend to advance the Fairy Tale Doctrine, pressuring Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jafari to stop all the maneuvering and go ahead and form a government, preferably one that doesn't make it a crime to be Sunni Muslim. You see, if only the Iraqis can put together a government, everything will be just fine.

Okay, she didn't quite say that all would be sweetness and light. But by jetting to Baghdad without telling anybody in advance, taking along British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw and freezing al-Jafari with her most intimidating Ice Queen faux-smile, she clearly reinforced the administration's view that cobbling together a new government is the next magic bullet that is going to rescue the Iraq adventure from an utter debacle.

The Bush administration would like to see a government of "national unity," as if such a thing existed in today's Iraq. Perhaps in the fanciful Baghdad of the Arabian Nights there's a genie who can cross his arms, blink his eyes and conjure a gentle breeze that spreads harmony across the land. If they find him, they should make him prime minister.

[marmar]

1. "the Fairy Tale Doctrine"

I love that. :)

[dajoki]

2. so true, isn't it?

[MissWaverly]

3. too bad they would come within 10 feet of her except for pictures

I saw a video, it looks like they only made eye contact and spoke to Jack Straw, Condi
reminded me of a ghost trailing along, someone not really there at all, almost like
a halogram I saw.

[dajoki]

4. Ice Queen faux-smile

what a picture that conjures up.

[MissWaverly]

5. I think this will be known as the Photo Op administration

Because their whole policy is about the 2 minute sound bite and the photo.

[dajoki]

6. very true n/t