Dirty Political Pool?
Fox News has obtained a document believed to have been written by the Democratic staff of the Senate Intelligence Committee that outlines a strategy for exposing what it calls “the administration’s dubious motives” in the lead-up to the war in Iraq.
The memo, provided late Tuesday by a source on the Committee and reported by Fox News’ Sean Hannity, discusses the timing of a possible investigation into pre-war Iraq intelligence in such a way that it could bring maximum embarrassment to President Bush in his re-election campaign.
Yes, the Democratic leadership is concerned about the war (you can tell by how they let the $87.5B package go through) but only when it is politically beneficial.
November 5th, 2003 at 3:05 pm
I’m not sure the $87B is a valid tie-in here. The Democrats voted for the $87B primarily because it would have been political suicide to vote against it. I can just imagine the rhetoric then. “The Democrats don’t support the troops! They’re cutting off your funding!”
Unfortunately, support for US military actions is almost always painted in absolutist terms, a la “You’re with us or you’re against us.” It’s impossible to criticize methodology without being painted as completely opposing action.
November 5th, 2003 at 3:13 pm
I should have explained a bit better. The fact they let it through does indicate concern. The fact that the resolution passed without a formal vote is appalling. And it is also easy deniability.
November 5th, 2003 at 4:49 pm
Yeah, my gut wants to do away with the voice vote, but when my gut gets what it wants, the results are usually even worse…