September 4, 2003
BRIAR PATCHED:
Bush switches signals on Iraq (Roland Flamini, 9/4/2003, UPI)
Predictably, European commentators reacted to the Bush administration's decision to enlist U.N. help in Iraq with somewhat smug satisfaction. The dominant sentiment was that U.S. insistence on managing Iraq's reconstruction on its own had come home to roost.Despite White House statements to the contrary, in Europe this was seen as an outright reversal of Washington's much vaunted go-it-alone policy. "Bush has second thoughts," said the leading Rome daily La Repubblica. "Now the United States in Iraq needs the United Nations. The (Bush) administration is in the process of surrendering."
Le Monde, the leading French newspaper, commented, "The project to enlarge the U.N. mandate contrasts with Washington's previous approach (to Iraq)."
The Left has had a field day trying to pick apart the Administration's rationale for war, so it seems like turnabout is only fair play. The most widely recognized problem with ignoring the UN and going it alone in Iraq was that we might get stuck with the entire task and whole bill for rebuilding the country afterwards. Had President Bush asked for help after the war the opponents of the war--Kofi Annan, China, Russia, France, Germany--would almost certainly have scoffed and refused. Today they consider it a victory that they're going to replace us in the quagmire. And Br'er Bush just keeps hoppin' along.... Posted by orrinj at September 4, 2003 1:16 PM
Mr. Judd:
It looks great!! I missed the comments section this week, but your article picks and byline continue to be the best commentary, anywhere.
I just had to comment that Cracklin' Oat Bran and coffee are not the food and beverage of (my) choice when considering football scores. Cold Buds are more like it. That's why they keep the scores simple.
By the way, Happy First Day of Regular Season NFL!!
Buttercup aka Football Fan
Posted by: Buttercup at September 4, 2003 2:07 PMCup:
You grieve me, though I suppose we could allow a FL & TX exception to the baseball over football rule?
Posted by: oj at September 4, 2003 2:28 PMCracklin' Oat Bran? Me too!! Dry, of course.
BTW, the site looks good.
Posted by: Bruce Cleaver at September 4, 2003 3:49 PMI like the looks of this new set-up, too.
Also, the comments window pops up a lot quicker than it does (did) on the old blog.
Posted by: Twn at September 4, 2003 5:39 PM