The unfolding scandal over Iraqi prisoner abuse continues its inexorable progress, obscuring all other issues among our tunnel-vision media.
Conservative George F. Will calls obliquely for the resignation of Donald Rumsfeld based what he sees as evidence of intellectual & moral torpor. (Will is always most alarmed when confronted with inarticulateness... in others.)
Listen to the language. It is always a leading indicator of moral confusion....One question is: Are the nation's efforts in the deepening global war — the world is more menacing than it was a year ago — helped or hindered by Rumsfeld's continuation as the appointed American most conspicuously identified with the conduct of the war? This is not a simple call. But being experienced, he will know how to make the call. Being honorable, he will so do.
He knows his Macbeth and will recognize the framing of the second question: Were he to resign, would discerning people say that nothing in his public life became him like the leaving of it?
"Listen to language" indeed, George. A better line of reasoning might be Dear Abby's old bottom line question: are we better off with him or without him? Another might be: does Rumsfeld as SecDef embolden or intimidate our enemies?
Old-fashioned liberal Morton Kondrake says to hold on.
Rumsfeld's leadership of the Iraq war effort has certainly been flawed, especially in his underestimation of post-war difficulties and costs. He has needlessly offended foreign countries. On the other hand, Iraq is largely his war - as well as Bush's and Vice President Cheney's - and, barring evidence of misconduct, he should be kept on to finish the job he started.
And so it goes....
Posted by Alan at May 11, 2004 12:23 PM