perfidy

Donald Rumsfeld, 04Oct04: "I have not seen any strong, hard evidence that links [al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein].''

Donald Rumsfeld 04Oct04: " regrettably was misunderstood."

Really? Well... you didn't stutter.

But enough with the cheap shots. Our own Buckethead has adequately established that links existed between al Qaeda and Saddam Hussein, much like links exist between me and the head of the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority, whoever he or she is, whose trains carry me to work every day. But those links are neither systemic nor enduring, and it seems that even Rumsfeld finally has to pony up the troof.

But what of the rhetorical linkages between the two great Satans? Repeatedly in the debate last Thursday, President Bush said "Saddam Hu-- Osama bin Laden," as if the two men were, not only two peas in a pod but actually conceptually the exact same enemy of America. It's impossible to tell whether Bush actually believes that howler, but the mistake is casually revealing. For those of us who continue to believe that Iraq is a sideshow, a distraction to the "War on Terror" we're supposed to be up in, it's kinda horrifying. For those of us who want the President-- whoever he or she is-- to be capable, however haltingly, of articulating who we're dealing with and why, it's really horrifying. On Thursday, Bush did nothing to reassure me that he has any defense beyond the standard talking points for his actions. I went into the debate feeling fairly hostile to both jokers; I came out fed up completely with W.

If the CIA says one thing over and over, and the President's folks say another opposite thing, over and over, what time will the first train get to Altoona?