Need for 'czar' shows chaos of war

[babylonsister]

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/311571_mcfeatters15.html

Need for 'czar' shows chaos of war

By ANN MCFEATTERS
GUEST COLUMNIST

snip//

The Decider, as Bush confidently called himself, to the delight of comedians everywhere, is supposed to be the commander in chief, especially since he fired the generals on the ground who disagreed with him about how the war was going. In truth, it has been Vice President Dick Cheney who has been -- and still is -- calling the shots in this appallingly misguided war, especially with the departure of his soul buddy, former defense chief Donald Rumsfeld. Now even Cheney is flummoxed about how to get out of one of the most stupendous messes in U.S. history.

With stunning chutzpah, the White House is suggesting that the war has been guided by a mid-level bureaucrat named Meghan O'Sullivan, who has toiled for Bush in near obscurity in the National Security Council, first under Condoleezza Rice and now under Stephen Hadley, who also wants out.

O'Sullivan is leaving her job, and, the White House says, that opens the door to replacing her with someone who would "oversee" the war on a much broader scale. Such a person would have the power to dictate to all kinds of government agencies. (Is there some kind of new constitutional crisis arising here?)

This is amazingly surreal (yes, I know I'm blowing a year's worth of adjectives) for a democracy where we're not supposed to have "war czars" who have unspecified powers over life and death.

While Bush gives speech after speech insisting the war is going OK, if not well, and paving the way toward democracy in the Middle East and giving terrorists everywhere nightmares (all evidence to the contrary), the pursuit of a war overseer is proof enough the White House policy is in total chaos.

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[rubberducky]

1. Seems like if we have a "war czar" we can only look

forward to war without end. Does congress get to approve this??

[Ian David]

2. Blame Czar? n/t

[pscot]

3. O'Sullivan got her start

working for Paul Bremer and the Provisional Authority in Baghdad. According to George Packer in The Assassin's Gate, to Meghanize a problem meant papering over your mistakes with a powerpoint presentation. Sounds like a skill much in demand around the White House. She will be missed.

[tanyev]

4. John Oliver on The Daily Show had the best line of all.

This is a critical time in the conflict. One that calls for a strong leader. And what better title for that leader than one evoking an ineffectual, tyrannical dynasty ultimately slaughtered by Communists in a filthy basement deep in the Ural Mountains? It's a morale booster!

[sam sarrha]

5. i think it is proof Bu$h's medication isnt working....