PhotoDude.com

Tue. Sep 30, 2003

Premeditated Felonious Stupidity

Premeditated Felonious Stupidity – It seems like every administration eventually works its way into a situation that requires a special prosecutor. An inquiry by an independent counsel. It looks like it’s Dubya’s turn.

The case of Joe Wilson, his CIA wife, the two mysterious White House leakers, and the potential of an ensuing ”frog march” is all over the media, so this not new ground. Check with Josh Marshall and Daniel Drezner to track this story, from ”both sides of the aisle.”

I just wanted to contribute my view. Though it’s far from unique, I’ve known a bit about Joe Wilson for a decade (more on that below), and I think he’s getting propagandized into something he isn’t.

There’s a couple of things about this story that one might consider horribly indicative, if true. First of all, all reports indicate it was two people in the White House doing the leaking, which means it wasn’t some ”lone rogue.” It was a premeditated act, decided upon by someone who is so used to running their own arena that they didn’t feel the need to get their boss’ approval.

That’s somebody pretty darn high up the chain.

Secondly, in terms of the ”Big Picture,” Joe Wilson’s trip and following report were a most minor issue. He also has a long and distinguished resume, and his veracity is not likely to be cast aside simply on the basis of a snide leak. I’ve heard him smirkingly portrayed recently as a ”Clinton appointee,” but I first read about him in the book ”Live from Baghdad” by Robert Wiener. Weiner was producer for CNN in Baghdad prior to and during the first Gulf War, and on page 32 he writes that Joe Wilson ”was the Deputy Chief of Mission and ranking US diplomat in Baghdad following the departure of Ambassador Glaspie…”

Note, this was during the Bush administration, so be sure to snicker the next time you hear on the news that he was a ”Clinton appointee.” Weiner portrays him as a straight shooter and a tough talker, and goes on to describe how Wilson was the guy charged with negotiating the release of hundreds of US citizens who were trapped in Iraq and Kuwait after the invasion. He was the last US official to meet with Saddam before the war. And he was no appeaser, he clearly despised Saddam’s regime. His attitude during the attempted negotiations prior to war can be summarized and paraphrased as, ”This is a waste of time, I know the people in this government, and we’re going to have to kick their ass.”

So when you hear him drawn as some other stereotype, know that you’re not getting the full story. Also lost in the story is the fact the administration asked him to go on the trip and report back. He did so on his own time with his own money. He then went on with his life.

But many months later, someone in the White House, ”somebody pretty darn high up the chain,” decided that this minor issue was worth a leak that qualifies as a felony. A leak that had no negative impact on Joe Wilson’s veracity. In other words, a felony for a failure, on something that was a minor and moot point.

There is no way to spin this as representative of ”smarts” in the White House. This was flat stupid. And ineffective. And if this is the chosen course of action on a minor issue, what about the big stuff? Not encouraging, at all.

Of course, the best thing a politician can do in this kind of circumstance is to get out in front of it, quickly police your own house, and thus grab control of the news cycle. Given the alleged discipline and loyalty to the The Leader in the White House, surely the culprits are willing to step forward and say, ”yep, we did something really stupid, and the President had no idea. Now excuse me, but I’ve got to go pick up my unemployment check.”

Game over. Before the opposition even gets fully suited up.

Of course, that won’t happen. Bush is also known for his loyalty, and I’m not sure he knows when to cut his losses. Rather than one big mea culpa, quickly and under their own control, they will now suffer a thousand cuts, for months, with no control.

No matter what really happened, the Bush administration has handled this like the Exxon corporation handled the Valdez disaster. Clumsily, slow to respond, and seemingly clueless to the long term damage.

A lot of the people who are pissed are Republicans. Nothing like degrading your base constituency heading into Election Year.

Later: Glenn Reynolds asks ”why anyone in the Bush Administration would ever have tasked a guy with Wilson’s views with an important mission.” Perhaps because Bush’s Daddy did too?