General Abizaid Shows His Troops How to Be Brave; Cheney Expected to Ignore

General John P. Abizaid, Combatant Commander, U.S. Central Command (i.e. the top American military commander in the Persian Gulf), today told the Senate Armed Services Committee that insurgents' strength had not diminished and that more foreign fighters were coming into Iraq than six months ago. As you will recall, this directly contradicts Vice President Dick Cheney's recent contention that the Iraqi insurgency was in its “last throes.” Who are you going to believe?

It is about time someone in charge showed some honesty and objective analysis. Continuing to blow smoke only does a disservice to the very troops guys like Cheney and Rumsfeld claim to admire. As far as I am concerned, true bravery is confronting the truth and addressing it. I only wish the Commander-in-Chief would take a closer listen.

Bill Frist: Professional Lackey

"The president made it very clear that he expects an up-or-down vote." Sen. Bill Frist, June 21, 2005, reversing his position (after a meeting with President Bush) on whether to continue pushing for a floor vote on John Bolton for U.N. ambassador.

Yes - we wouldn't want to give the President any less than everything he asks for.

Does Sen. Hagel Read the CNB?

"Things aren't getting better; they're getting worse. The White House is completely disconnected from reality," Hagel tells U.S. News. "It's like they're just making it up as they go along. "

Not trying to take credit for Sen. Hagel's strong (overdue, but strong) stance, but is the timing suspect? This came out yesterday -- CNB wrote this last week. You decide. . . .

The CIA's New-Found Respect for International Law

Porter Goss, the director of the CIA says he has an “excellent idea” where Osama bin Laden is hiding, but that the United States’ respect for sovereign nations makes it more difficult to capture the al-Qaida chief.

I guess I am confused about this lackadaisical attitude toward the guy who was the head of the Sept. 11 attacks. Bush said in 2002 that he was not concerned about bin Laden, and now the head of the CIA says "oh, we know where he is, but we are suddenly going to respect international law and agreements."

I don't want to go out on a limb here -- but could it be that we really DON'T know where is he is (and, thus, don't care as Bush so clearly stated nearly 3 years ago), and that Porter Goss is putting out puffery to counteract the downswing in the polls?