Short Term Memory

I would just like to send kudos out to Jon Stewart again for noting something that was bereft from all the networks and papers, to my knowledge. Admittedly, this type of multi-story comparison tends to end up on op/ed pages (though I can’t for the life of me understand why; the BBC and the Economist are big fans of this type of writing as it gives the reader the context to HAVE A CLUE WHAT IS GOING ON), and admittedly I don’t tend to read them that often. But enough introduction.

(Note: the Daily Show was very brief, for time purposes I imagine. In investigating the quotes, I have extended them quite a bit; they just get more dazzling…)

“President Discusses Freedom and Democracy in Iraq” (Couldn’t they think of a better title than that for his speech?) March 13, 2006 at George Washington University:

“Some of the most powerful IEDs [improvised explosive device, the weapon of choice for insurgent carbombers] we’re seeing in Iraq today includes components that came from Iran. Our Director of National Intelligence, John Negroponte, told the Congress, ‘Tehran has been responsible for at least some of the increasing lethality of anti-coalition attacks by providing Shia militia with the capability to build improvised explosive devises’ in Iraq. Coalition forces have seized IEDs and components that were clearly produced in Iran. Such actions -- along with Iran's support for terrorism and its pursuit of nuclear weapons -- are increasingly isolating Iran, and America will continue to rally the world to confront these threats.”

Wow. I don’t know if anybody remembers, but this is the exact type of insinuation and loose-yet-malevolent connections that were first used to get the majority of Americans to believe that Iraq somehow had anything to do with al Qaeda (prior to our invading, that is). Not that I think this is his intent, but one would practically think Mr. Bush was preparing us for military action with such intelligence. For those who want to be sympathetic, remember: I can get IED “components” from Radio Shack and WalMart. Presumably this does not mean that the leaders of those two corporations are in cahoots with my terrorist actions. It is a massively different order of inquiry to claim that Tehran is responsible.

(As an aside: haven’t we consistently tried to claim that the insurgency is almost completely foreign fighters and disaffected, disgruntled Sunnis? What sense does it make that the Shia would be supplied by Iran, when they have control of the government and their Leaders either encourage them not to kill anyone or to kill Sunnis? In other words, neither the Shia nor Iran can benefit from Shiite insurgents, do they?)

Stewart: “And you know this president: if he is going to put something that incendiary in one of his speeches, he’s got the proof to back it up!”

General Pace, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and Secretary Rumsfeld, head of the Dept. of Defense were giving a press conference the next day. A reporter asked them both the following question: “"Do you have proof that they are, indeed, behind this, the government of Iran?" They both pause for just a second. Rumsfeld (in a beautifully obvious dodge) then turns to the general and says, “Pete?” General Pace looks quite uncomfortable. He then leans in to the microphone and says, "I do not, sir." Rumsfeld, I’m sure in an attempt at damage control, then rambles out the following: “As to equipment, unless you physically see it coming in (a government-sponsored vehicle, or with government-sponsored troops) you can’t know it. All you know is that you find equipment (weapons, explosives, whatever) in a country that came from the neighboring country. With respect to people, it’s very difficult to tie a thread precisely to the government of Iran.”

I don’t think this even needs any commentary or analysis.

Stewart’s response: “You know what? Forgetaboutit! Forget it! Good enough for me! Line ‘em up, boys, we’re heading to Tehran!”

Personally, I think the president should be like a lover. If she’s going to lie to me, at least have enough respect for me to make the lie brilliant, intricate, and difficult to unravel. Don’t just shove something malformed in my face: that is awfully insulting to my intelligence.

-W.