The fact that National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice is on the campaign trail generated considerable attention last week. What went largely unnoticed, however, is what Rice has been saying on the campaign trail.
Rice, who started making political pitches for Bush in swing states shortly after learning that 377 tons of dangerous explosives had been looted from an Iraqi facility we failed to secure, has been following in her boss’ pattern of misleading rhetoric and deceptive claims.
My friend Dave, for example, noted that the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette was unimpressed with the “disconnect” between Rice’s local campaign appearance and reality.
We will assume kindly that [Rice] has been isolated from all news reports on Iraq while traveling in the interior of the country.
Asked if the administration had previously anticipated the war’s cost in dollars and in American and Iraqi lives, Ms. Rice sought to make again the nonexistent link between 9/11 and the Iraq war. She said the circumstances in the Middle East that had produced the 9/11 attack were still there and that the United States is thus obliged to endure the sacrifice of lives and money involved in the war.
Pittsburghers appreciate Ms. Rice’s coming here, even this late in the game. What was disappointing was that her presentation was so partisan and out of touch with the reality of the world. If she actually believes what she said Thursday, it is frightening to think she is the president’s chief national security adviser.
Maybe she should have stayed in DC.