April 6, 2003

"GOOD":

Viewing the War as a Lesson to the World (DAVID E. SANGER, April 6, 2003, NY Times)
Shortly after Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld issued a stark warning to Iran and Syria last week, declaring that any "hostile acts" they committed on behalf of Iraq might prompt severe consequences, one of President Bush's closest aides stepped into the Oval Office to warn him that his unpredictable defense secretary had just raised the specter of a broader confrontation.

Mr. Bush smiled a moment at the latest example of Mr. Rumsfeld's brazenness, recalled the aide. Then he said one word--"Good"--and went back to work.


Posted by Orrin Judd at April 6, 2003 12:51 AM
Comments

The beauty of good cop/bad cop is that it works even if the target knows what's going on, but this is getting a little blatant.

Posted by: David Cohen at April 6, 2003 8:49 PM

David:



No one ever accused W of subtlety, did they?

Posted by: oj at April 6, 2003 11:50 PM

Geoffrey Blainey, in "The Causes of War" listed failures of communication as one of the leading problems.

So far, Bush has been clear as plate glass.

It's only the fact that everybody else expects lies and obfuscation that has caused the confusion.

Once they get the idea that taking Bush literally would be a good idea, we'll all be better off.

Posted by: Richard Aubrey at April 8, 2003 1:43 PM
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