Watchdog Blog

Saul Friedman: After Libby and Cheney There Is Still Iraq

Posted at 9:21 am, July 5th, 2007
Saul Friedman Mug

Now can we get back to what most Americans consider the most important issue facing the country–the war and the killing in Iraq? Sure, the president’s commutation of Scooter Libby’s prison sentence was, and is, a good and important story. And it was fun to poke fun at puppeteer Dick Cheney’s effort to declare himself the fourth and most independent branch of government. And there was mild interest in Russian President Putin’s visit to Kennebunkport.

But during that period the second quarter of the year came to an end. And far outside the Beltway, along with the stock market and corporate earnings, 331 Americans died in Iraq, more than in any previous quarter. And although there was anger in the White House press room toward the temerity of the Libby commutation, and ridicule of Cheney’s chutzpah, in all the briefings and press gaggles during that period, no one asked, or seemed to care about the incessant drumbeat of death in Iraq, or in Afghanistan, where I thought we had won.

There was a good chance to ask about the death toll when National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley, one of Libby’s buddies, briefed reporters on what to expect (very little) from the Putin visit. But no one asked.

I have been cautioned that it does little good to ask about the death toll in Iraq because the answers come back in bland talking points. But that may be because the questions are not as angry, frustrated or pointed as they have been on the Libby and Cheney matters. My friend and former White House colleague Helen Thomas, who sets the eyes of somnambulent reporters rolling toward the ceiling, always asks the loaded, pointed question. For as she says, and I learned, it’s the question that’s important.

A dinner guest, a veteran of the federal government, told me the other night. “Keep asking about the deaths, the wounded and why the president has not been able to attend a single military funeral.” Indeed, when the questions are pointed and persistent and as angry as those seen in the Libby affair, it has an effect. Members of the White House staff monitor the briefings and can be forced to react. White House reporters may check each morning at the icasualties.org Web site to find the latest number of U.S. dead and wounded. So far this month, by July 4, there had been 10 American deaths, bringing the total to 3,588.

I believe that reporters need to remind the White House spokesperson ever day what the death toll is and ask pointedly whether he or she knows the number and can say if the president knows, or cares enough to attend at least one funeral and personally present the bereaved with the coffin flag “with the thanks of a grateful nation.” But George w. Bush, as E.L. Doctorow said two years ago in the East Hampton Star, is an “unfeeling president,” someone Doctorow faults “for not knowing what death is.”



One Response to “After Libby and Cheney There Is Still Iraq”

  1. ecdistributions says:

    A new discovery about freedom in Iraq

    The Iraqi people are hungry for democratic freedom and willing to die for it. Many Americans however are voting for the opposite contrast of freedom called socialism this year. Annalists are already predicting a huge sweep of leftists coming into both the U.S. house and senate on the coat tails of the white house this fall. These leftists openly consider christian patriots the enemy of their state even above the terrorists. These people are itching to pass the fairness doctrine to put an end to conservative talk radio. They are already targeting hate legislation aimed directly against all American patriots. They plan a massive overhaul of the judicial system to impose legislation against 1st and 2nd amendment rights.

    McCain will make the Iraq war the central issue of this campaign because Obama promises to withdraw our troops regardless if the terrorists declare victory. Christians may have one last chance to grandstand against another Vietnam and the establishment of an anti christian socialistic state in America. But there is now a
    new hope!

    A new biblical discovery has just been released into the market bringing a miraculous prophecy about Iraq. There are a large number of biblical scriptures which have passed silently under the radar until now.

    Iraq is to be freed by a great eagle wings in the latter day prophecy! This is welcome news coming straight from the Bible just before the election. Most Americans still believe in Bible prophecy above political persuasions.

    If the war in Iraq represents Gods will actually predicted in Bible prophecy, this may be our chance to unify christians and patriots before this critical election takes place. Obama claims to be a good christian. Could he now become exposed publically for apposing “the great eagle” freeing Iraq in Bible prophecy?
    A Salem christian group published an important press release concerning this true Biblical discovery! This stunning

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