Earlier today I watched President Bush answering questions from the press about his trip to Iraq. One question struck me as particularly stupid. (I wasn't able to watch the whole thing so there may have been others that were equally dense.)
Bush was asked if the lack of notice that he was coming showed distrust of the Iraqi prime minister and his cabinet.
Huh?
If the president didn't trust them, he wouldn't have gone at all. The most obvious reason to me that there wasn't earlier notification of the visit is that it would cause Iraqi officials to alter their schedules in way that might be noticed by those who aren't trustworthy. A change in routine would be a clear signal that something was in the works and could endanger both President Bush and Prime Minister al-Maliki.
I would never have succeeded in politics. I don't have the patience to answer stupid questions diplomatically.
Posted by marybeth at June 14, 2006 05:22 PM IraqYou and me both. I freaked out when I saw him on TV as I was out yesterday. I thought something else had happened. Someone help our media.
Posted by vw bug at June 15, 2006 12:06 PM