Dubbyah is at it again, trying to be all things to all people.
At his press conference yesterday, the President was asked about the intel presented that showed that Iran is supplying ordnance and weaponry used to kill our troops in Iraq...complete with serial numbers. And how he can retaliate without going to war.
His response?
"What we do know is that the Quds force was instrumental in providing these deadly IEDs to networks inside of Iraq. We know that,” he explained. “And we also know that the Quds force is a part of the Iranian government. That's a known. What we don't know is whether or not the head leaders of Iran ordered the Quds force to do what they did."
Huh? So does that mean that the elite forces of Iran's Republican Guard are doing this on their own?
"Either they knew or didn't know, and what matters is, is that they're there. What's worse, that the government knew or that the government didn't know? But the point I made in my initial speech in the White House about Iraq was, is that we know they're there and we're going to protect our troops..."
It gets worse.
David Gregory: "Thank you, sir. I'd like to follow on Iran. Critics say that you are using the same quality of intelligence about Iran that you used to make the case for war in Iraq, specifically about WMD that turned out to be wrong, and that you are doing that to make a case for war against Iran. Is that the case?"
THE PRESIDENT: "I can say with certainty that the Quds force, a part of the Iranian government, has provided these sophisticated IEDs that have harmed our troops. And I'd like to repeat, I do not know whether or not the Quds force was ordered from the top echelons of government. But my point is what's worse -- them ordering it and it happening, or them not ordering it and it happening? And so we will continue to protect our troops."
Translation?: `Hey, because of the mismanagement on Iraq, I realize I no longer have any credibility with most people. I understand that most of you don't favor using our military for anything and are out for my scalp and Congress is after my behind, so I want to reassure you and them that just because Iran is targeting our military, I'm not really going to do anything decisive about it. And by vaguely dancin' around it, I want to make those people who think I should do something about Iran think that I just might...so I look decisive.'
Perhaps the president does indeed have some master stroke up his sleeve to deal with Iran, and I could be wrong about him dissembling just so he can coast through the next two years. I certainly hope so.
But let's just say I have my doubts.
If Hezbollah and the Mahdi Army have so coherently displayed their Foreign Legion statuses, why can't Bush wrap his head around the possibility that the Quds force is just another of the lot?
ReplyDeleteThis is almost as bad as saying that Iran has nothing to do with Lebanon and Hezbollah because Nasrallah's the big boss.
Actually, it's worse, come to think of it.