I have put together an interesting
build of "mea culpas" from the Bush administration. Who will they blame the war fiasco on? It certainly appears that Bush and the administration is starting to set up the military. The basic flow of information is this:
1. The strategy was right (Bush responsible)
2. We gave the military everything they needed to execute the tactics to support the strategy.
3. The tactics were inept and there were "thousands" of tactical errors
4. Ipso Facto, The military is to blame....
While the Military played along with the "we gave you everything you wanted", what they did not realize is, collectively, they are being "Ollie Northed" by the Bush Administration.
As you saw in my previous post, I have tried to collect the major "Mea Culpas" that the Bush Administration has made over the last few years. As I wrote that piece I realized the consistent theme (i.e, talking point) which has come through these statements. The theme is basically: The strategy is right but the tactics were faulty. This leads us to ask the question, who is responsible for tactics?
The answer: The military!
Let's put these statements together. Rummy has said over and over again that he is giving the commanders on the ground everything they ask for and need. Therefore, there is no "The buck stops here" with the Bush administration, rather it is "The Buck Stops over there" and the "over there" is with the military ground leadership in Iraq.
Bush and Condi are now blaming "tactics" and clearly the military on the ground is responsible for tactics (especially since Rummy has claimed that he has given them everything they need). Therefore, one can only conclude that the military has bumbled their way through this and are directly responsible for all the tactical errors made in Iraq.
Is this true? Is our military so inept now that they screwed this up beyond all recognition? Of course not, But, it certainly is making a great set up and cover for the Bush administration. What is happening is clear: The only ones left who really support Bush, the military, are being set up so that during the election, if needed, Bush and the Neo-Cons can say, 'our strategy was right but our commanders on the ground, responsible for the tactics, screwed it all up with misjudgments. They never asked us for what they truly needed.'
To the US Military: What is it like to see yourself get set up for the fall? It is coming. Again, let's piece it together:
1. The strategy was right (Bush responsible)
2. We gave the military everything they needed to execute the tactics to support the strategy.
3. The tactics were inept and there were "thousands" of tactical errors
4. Ipso Facto, The military is to blame....
The perfect defense for the politicos... sorry to those who wore and still wear the uniform.