Monday, August 20, 2007

JOHN MCCAIN

Anyone Else Think Petraeus Testifying on 9/11 Is a Bad Idea?

Over at the Corner, NROniks say they, like McCain, have heard that General Petraeus will testify before the Senate on September 11, and that Congress requested the date, not the White House.

I was initially not offended by the thought of it occuring that day, but scheduling it for that date sounds like a sure-fire formula for accusations that the White House is "politicizing 9/11." Even if it turns out Democratic congressional leaders scheduled it for that day, little facts like that barely amount to speedbumps on the sprint to Outrageland. Congressional Democrats accused Bush of politicizing the anniversary last year for daring to discuss Iraq in his speech that evening.

The progress report on Iraq is due Sept. 15. The thirteen and fourteenth are Rosh Hashana. That still leaves the 10th and 12th, which would be better dates, if you ask me.

In fact, if indeed the Democratic leadership of Congress scheduled Petraeus to testify that day, I cannot help but suspect that they indeed are trying to politicize the anniversary. The all-too-easy soundbites write themselves — "Today, six years after 9/11, we learn that we're failing in Iraq and the Bush administration has made us no safer and blah blah blah." Rather than think about the trigger that launched the war on terror, that set the chain of events in motion, they want to grill Petraeus. The hearing is important, but there are other dates; we're all going to be thinking, remembering and mourning for much of that day.

I hope they move the testimony up or back a day. It just seems like forcing an unnecessary controversy into a day that's full enough as is.

08/20 01:18 PMShare