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By Mark Kilmer Posted in Special Features — Comments (1) / Email this page » / Leave a comment »

Sunday, August 5, 2007

On NBC's Meet the Press, Secretary of Defense Bob Gates repeated that we will reassess our strategy in Iraq after General Petraeus reports in September. He said there is a "possibility" that we could begin to draw down our troop levels in Iraq by the end of the year.

On FNS, Secetary of State Condoleezza Rice asked that we not "dismiss the efforts" of the Iraq government, even if there has been no final resolution on the big issues.

Next on FNS, Michael O'Hanlon and Ken Pollack of the lefty outfit Brookings Institution explained that they had been to Iraq, done some serious study, and determined that the surge was working militarily. O'Hanlon suggest the possibility of having the Iraqis reschedule their planned 2009 elections to replace the Maliki government sooner.

On TW, host George Stephanopoulos hosted a GOP Iowa debate. This was the real thing: 90 minutes, a hall, podiums, the whole bit. The responses from the candidates were like the last ones and the ones before that, and Fred Thompson wasn't there. Everyone else, including Tom Tancredo and Ron Paul, was there.

First up on FTN, Secretary Rice said that though the Iraqi parliament is going on vacation, they were asked to be ready to vote on important legislation. The leaders of the Iraqi parliament are working on just such legislation. She did not, however, promise that anything would happen.

Next up on FTN, DCCC Chairman Rahm Emanuel, a former Clinton (Bill) staffer, boasted that his boss had solved all the problems in the middle east and that this President had squandered six years and now was forced to "buy" good will from the middle eastern countries with arms sales.

On CNN's Late Edition, Wolf Blitzer asked Secretary Gates when we would start to draw down troops in Iraq. (It is unclear but important whether this taped interview took place before or after he told Tim Russert that a beginning of a drawdown before the end of the year was "possible.") They are, he said on LE, developing plans for the various contingencies which may be contained in the report.

Next on LE, Carl Levin said that the surge had failed, there was no chance of political progress before the report in September. He later added that any of the Democrat candidates was more prepared to be President than any of the Republicans.

Read the show-by-show review beneath the fold…

SECDEF BOB GATES ON MTP. Host Tim Russert's opened NBC's Meet the Press with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. Russert listed the death and injury sustained in our Iraq effort to date and asked: "WHAT NOW ?!?" That was the theme.

Gates expressed disappointment that the Sunni faction had left the Maliki government. He expressed dissatisfaction in the actions of the Iraq national government, but he said that it made the successes involving the local governments "more interesting."

Gates said we "underestimated the depth" of the hatred and mistrust between the various factions in Iraq. The "deep mistrust" and "internal cultural, historical clash" have made reconciliation "more difficult."

The Secretary said that the September report "won't be entirely General Petraeus, [but] it will be mostly General Petraeus." The President's nominee to be Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael Mullen, is saying what the President has said, Gates said, when the Admiral said that there would have to be a reassessment of our course in September. (Said so.) Russert pinned him down on this, and there will be a reassessment after the September report.

Secretary Gates acknowledged that he thinks the Iraqi government should stay in session through August. He said that he told the Iraqis: "Every day we buy you [to seek reconciliation], we're buying with American blood."

Gates said that there was a "possibility" that we could begin to draw down our troops in Iraq by the end of the year. Russert wanted to know how "possible" this was, but Gates wouldn't give him any more. My thought was that this could be interpreted by the Romney camp as vindication for his "SURGE WORKS, GET OUT" comment of last week. Russert, on the other hand, seemed to relish the thought that we would leave because it was not working.

Russert sought vindication for Hillary, re: Eric Edelmen's letter regarding her "enemy propaganda." Gates said that he would not have used the term "enemy propaganda."

Russert sought vindication for Obama for saying that he'd blow off Pak President Musharraf and invade Pakistan if a high value target were in Afghanistan and Musharraf didn't act. Russert asked what we would do if we knew of a high value target and Musharraf wouldn't act. Gates explained that Musharraf would act, that he wants to eliminate the high value targets as much as we do. Russert was persistent, prodding Gates to play along with the silly hypothetical, and Gates replied that he did not think we'd act without "consulting" Musharraf.

CONDOLEEZZA RICE ON FNS. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was the first guest with host Chris Wallace on FOX News Sunday. The Secretary explained that there were two kinds of violence in Iraq. The Death Squad sectarian-style violence had diminished, but the al Qaeda-inspired car bombings "may continue."

Rice said that it was "difficult work" for the Iraqi government, and we should not "dismiss their efforts." They are trying, evidently. She said that the progress in Anbar province was more than a "few local sheiks" coming to our side. The Sunni Triangle was "turning around."

Wallace asked her about Obama's invade Pakistan remarks, have they harmed our relationship with Pakistan? Secretary Rice told him that the President explained to Musharraf that Obama's words were just a candidate mouthing off in an election year (that characterization is mine, not hers) and that the United States wanted him to work harder at capturing these high value targets.

BROOKINGS ON FOX. Michael O'Hanlon and Ken Pollack of the lefty outfit Brookings Institution were Wallace's next guests, discussing Iraq and their NYT Op/Ed of last Monday, A War We Just Might Win. They had spent time in Iraq studying the situation there.

Pollack explained that the city of Mosul, which at one point had to be filled with U.S. military personnel, was now being secured almost entirely by the Iraqi security forces. O'Hanlon explained that we have made progress against al Qaeda and the "extreme Sunni militias."

Pollack explains that they know they've been criticized, but they have to "call things exactly as we see them." The surge is the proper strategy. It should have been implemented sooner, he allowed, but it was making progress now.

Pollack said that we cannot give the surge indefinite time to work. If it comes to it and the Maliki government cannot succeed, we'll have to get a new government. Asked about this, he explained that this could be done by asking the Iraqis to move up their 2009 elections to replace Maliki.

Wallace noted that two lefty bloggers – Glenn Greenwald of the teen fashion-and-lipstick trends site Salon.com and somebody named Logan Murphy of whom I've never heard – had criticized O'Hanlon and Pollack for saying that the surge was working. O'Hanlon said that the responsible lefty politicians have accepted the report more graciously and he dismissed lefty bloggers as "hav[ing] a business" of writing outrageous things. He pointed out that they had not been to Iraq, and it can be inferred from that that he thinks these bloggers to be unserious and clueless.

O'Hanlon supports Hillary, and Pollack isn't sayin'.

REPUBLICAN DEBATE ON TW. Lots of Republican candidates behind podiums and in front of an audience in a hall in Iowa this morning on ABC. It was Steph's GOP candidates debate, sans Fred Thompson. The California Yankee has it here at RedState.

Mitt Romney had the best line, when asked about Barry Obama's threat to invade Pakistan if elected. He contrasted that with Barry's promise at the last Dem debate to have tea with Americas enemies: "He's gone from Jane Fonda to Dr. Strangelove in one week."

The winner of the debate was George Stephanopoulos, who did a good job of moderating and seemed to be having a blast. In two weeks, he'll have even more fun when he hosts a debate amongst his friends, the Democrat candidates.

SECRETARY RICE ON FTN. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice was host Bob Schieffer's first guest on CBS' Face the Nation. Schieffer asked her if she was going to tell Afghan President Hamid Karzai that he was right when he predicted that a Musharraf treaty with the Taliban would create a terrorists safe haven. Rice said that they would talk about many issues, including the Pakistani hinterlands. Schieffer cited Obama's threatened invasion of Pak, and Rice pointedly refused to comment on it. She's there, she said, to talk about American policy.

She said that the idea that we have a great interest in capturing these people than does Musharraf is wrong. "We and Pakistan have a very strong interest together." The extremists are a danger to Pak as well, she explained.

Schieffer asked her about the arms sale to the Saudis: "Why did you do this, and why is it a good thing?" The secretary explained that we have interests that need to be defended, and our friends should be able to defend themselves, specifically against Iran. Schieffer asked her if the Saudis "were doing all they can" to stop militants from entering Iraq. Rice answered that Syria was the big problem in this regard, in part because of the job the Saudis were doing on there own border with Iraq.

Schieffer asked hear about the infamous Iraqi parliamentary vacation. Rice explained that she urged the parliament to be ready to pass important legislation, and that the leadership of the Iraqi parliament is not on vacation; they're working to ready this legislation.

Schieffer cut her off so he could go to commercials and chat with Rahm.

RAHM EMANUEL ON FTN. Schieffer next spoke with Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chairman Rahm Emanuel, a former Clinton (Bill) staffer.

Rahm snorted that the Administration if trying to "buy back good will" from the Saudis with their arm sale after "six years of neglect." He added that he doesn't want to "send the Saudis arms; I want to send them a message."

Rahm said that our allies say the upcoming conference will be "just another photo op." Rahm talked about how Clinton had solved the problems in the Middle East, but this Administration had neglected it and had to buy allies with arms.

Rahm said that the Administration had two voices on the surge. Gates said that it wasn't working, while Rice was "talking from talking points." He said that "we find ourselves in the worst national security crisis in a generation."

Bob held him over a break.

Schieffer said Iraq was the major issue in the last election, but that Democrats were unable to do anything on this issue. He asked if this was why Congress has a lower approval rating than the President. Rahm explained that people want change and the Democrats represent that. What the public want is what the Democrats have done, but the American people impatient. Schieffer reiterated that they've done nothing on Iraq, and Rahm said that they've passed health care. He said that the President would see that it is bipartisan and sign it.

"We have a fundamental difference" with the Administration on Iraq, he said. He went back to the old line that there are "consequences" in Iraq, and that the American people want "redeployment."

Schieffer asked him what the Dems will do if General Petraeus comes back and says he needs more time. Rahm explained that our troops have met every task they've been given in Iraq, but the Iraqis are doing nothing. Rahm said we need to get out of Iraq and concentrate on fighting terror.

Bob asked him about the "atmosphere in Washington," positing that it is "more acrimonious" than ever. "Is this how it's going to be in Washington?" Rahm said that the Congress critters get along in private. He said that "it's better than it looks."

THE NTSB CHAIRMAN ON LE. On CNN's Late Edition, Wolf first spoke to NTSB Chairman Mark Rosenker about the Minneapolis bridge collapse, asking him if he's close to pinning down what had happened. Rosenker explained that it would be a through investigation. He thanked Governor Tim Pawlenty, the First Responders, and the volunteers. Rosenker discussed the "collapse pattern."

A professor has created a computer model of the bridge and they will work with that, putting more data into it to make it more accurate. That will take several months, he said.

Wolf asked what he was doing to prevent similar bridges around the country from collapsing, and Rosenker said that his job was to inspect what had happened in Minnesota. Other federal agencies would handle the other bridges.

Wolfe asked Rosenker if there was any criminal wrongdoing involved, and Rosenker explained that they were treating it as a "catastrophic event" unless or until something "leaps out at us."

BOB GATES ON LE. Secretary of Defense Bob Gates was Blitzer's next guest on LE. They first played a CNN bit (Barbara Starr) about how Gates is trying to undo the damage of the Rumsfeld era. Gates explained that the surge was working "as well as we would have hoped" militarily. Wolf asked him about the political situation, and Gates replied that this was "mixed." It was working on the local level, but it was disappointing "at the national level."

We've underestimated the "deep mistrust" between the factions. He said that it was surprising that it is taking time, as the concern now is over profound issues which will shape the country for years to come.

Wolf asked how much animosity is generated by General Petraeus working with Sunni tribes. Gates said that there probably is some "unease." Wolf argued that the weapons we are giving the Sunnis would eventually be used against the Shi'ites or against us. Gates explained that we didn't have to arm them, as everybody in Iraq has weapons, but it's best to take the risk of training them.

Gates said that there would be a remnant, a residual force for "some period of time beyond when we begin a drawdown." Wolf asked him when we could begin to draw down, and Gates said we should wait for General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker to report. (It is unclear but important whether this taped interview took place before or after he told Tim Russert that a beginning of a drawdown before the end of the year was "possible.") They are, he said on LE, developing plans for the various contingencies which may be contained in the report.

After a break, Blitzer played Khalilzad saying the Saudis weren't helping. Gates blasted Khalilzad. Blitzer called Maliki and agent of Iran. Gates dismissed that one as well, citing how Maliki has "made several decisions" which were in Iraq's interests but not in Iran's.

Blitzer played a clip of Karzai saying that Iran was helping the Afghan government. Gates shot back that they are also arming the Taliban.

Blitzer asked if we would invade Pak if Ayman al Zawahiri were in the hinterlands of Pak. Gates said we would talk to Musharraf and work with him. (Sorry, Barry O.)

Blitzer asked if we were any closer to finding OBL. Gates said that we're working on it: "We are dedicated significant resources into finding him."

CARL LEVIN ON LE. Blitzer next spoke to the dour one, Senator Carl Levin of Michigan, to offer "a different perspective." He said that because the surge was designed to give the Iraqis room to come to political reconciliation, the surge has failed. He said that it "has been going in the wrong direction" politically in Iraq. He sees no chance of political progress by mid-September, and at that point, the Administration has to come to terms with its failure. He suggested the possibility of a "new Iraq government," less sectarian, but he did not say how this would come about. (He got that idea from the Brookings boys.)

Levin argued that Bush has to pressure the Iraqi government to "take the risks" and to sort things out for themselves. Blitzer cited the NYT peace by O'Hanlon and Pollack. Levin thinks that they are accurate that there is "no hope of a military solution in Iraq."

Wolf asked Levin about the Saudi arms sale, and Levin said he would support it only if it contains no weapons which would give then any advantage over anyone in the region.

Wolf asked him if Obama were ready to be President, and Levin said that any Democrat candidate was more prepared than any Republican.
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Not bad for early August. Have at it.