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Thu. Nov 09, 2006

Rummy Rolls Into The Sunset

With blogger headlines like “Olberman and Bin Laden Are Celebrating” and “America Rolls Over To Al-Qaeda,” it seems clear there are portions of the rant-o-sphere that still have more fighter in them than, um, unifier. How about President Bush?

It’s hard to tell from one press conference, but the fact he accepted Rumsfeld’s resignation might be a sign. Of something. After all, I believe this is the third time Rumsfeld has at least offered to submit it. Previously, as recently as last week, Bush said Rumsfeld would leave when he did.

So it certainly sets the mind to wondering. Now don’t get me wrong, I’m by far the number one return on the web for the phrase “unconscionable malpractice,” which I first used in November, 2003, and directly attached to Rumsfeld in January, 2004. To my way of thinking, this is over two years overdue. An entire election cycle ago. Still, the timing is … interesting.

I know part of it was strategic. Smart. By getting this announcement out today, they grabbed the media cycle that would have been devoted solely to post-election analysis and general Republican thumping. They took the initiative, and acted almost as if they saw this election as a national referendum on Iraq. Left many blinking.

It also gives the President some new cover and freedom of action. A new SecDef could actually be a prelude to a hard line approach in Iraq, in the short term. In addition, with the report from the Baker commission coming sometime in the coming weeks/months, it makes for a clean functional break. Because that commission was surely not going to suggest they just continue to let Rummy run with it. And if Democrat-initiated investigations into the Pentagon find dirt, that guy with the wheelbarrow will be two or three months gone. Old news.

But the timing…

Look, we all know that Bush finally fired Rumsfeld because of politics. Not actual performance. The timing of it was purely due to the politics. A Big Ugly Tuesday Night in the Red Ranch … not Rumsfeld’s actual performance this week or last. And one can’t help but wonder if this move hadn’t been made two months ago (never mind two years ago), for the same political reasons, if the results in Congress would be the same today.

If Bush had come out, oh, say, the day after Foley hit the news in late September, and said that a change in course in Iraq was needed (as if that wasn’t just as obvious then as it is now), starting at the top with replacing Rumsfeld … would he have pulled in more voters for Republicans in Congress than he did by doing the exact opposite?

If I was a Republican, I’d be asking that question. Pretty angrily. But I’m not. While I’m pleased and surprised that he is gone, it feels a bit like watching the fire trucks drive away while staring at the remains of a smoldering home. It’s good that the fire is finally out. But there’s still a big mess to be tackled.