David Warren: Next
Charles Johnson
Thu Oct 2, 2003 at 2:03 pm PDT • Views: 215
Some interesting observations from David Warren on the progress of the war: Next. (Hat tip: NC.)
The reality is that the Bush administration now finds itself in the position of the one adult in a room full of unhappy children. The adult carries responsibilities that none of the children fully understand. A mortal threat presents itself to adult and children alike, but only the adult appreciates this. He must find a way to proceed in spite of the children’s very active non-cooperation.
I realize this is not a flattering account of the spectacle of the “United Nations” at work, but it is unfortunately true. And it is the most useful analogy I have found to guess how the Bush administration must proceed, given the nature of its actual problem — an enemy vowed to the destruction of the West, which will stop at nothing, and must soon be armed with unimaginably lethal weapons and nearly undetectable methods for delivering them.
My impression from speaking with several administration, especially Pentagon, insiders, and by observing what one can discover of the extension of U.S. operations overseas (through the securing of basing and landing rights and other joint agreements), is that we should expect the field struggle against international terrorism to disappear off our television screens. The media have been discovered to be an enemy, pure and simple, and no attempt to brief or include them in operations makes any sense. Indeed, shaking off media attention is now intrinsic to the strategy.
Newsweek provides a perfect example of Warren’s point, with the cover of their new all quagmire, all the time issue: The Unbuilding of Iraq.
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Frank says: