Now, then...

One Word Stands Out

By Rick Horowitz

Washington - The word I notice is "now."

The Iraq Study Group report -- 96 pages (plus appendices), 79 recommendations -- is on the web and in the bookstores, and the parsing has begun in earnest. Everybody has a favorite word or phrase -- which is to say, a word or phrase that allows for a hearty "I told you so!" or at least a heartfelt "Are they out of their minds?!!" A favorite word or phrase that stands out if only for being left out.

For the administration, for instance, it's "govern itself, sustain itself, and defend itself" -- the very words the president himself has been using lately to described his own (increasingly downsized) goals for that disintegrating country. And two words -- "civil war" -- that didn't make the cut, except as a "prospect" that might someday focus Iraqis attention on better behavior, have also given the White House an excuse to pound its chest and say, "See? It's not as bad as all that!"

(Never mind that the Study Group authors seem to have decided that describing the disastrous goings-on in graphic and sobering detail was more important than sticking a particular -- and controversial -- label on it, which is why, presumably, they settled on "sectarian violence.")

For the administration's critics on one side of the divide, meanwhile, there's a whole host of choices. Do you prefer "lethality"? "Grave and deteriorating"? "Slide toward chaos"? "No magic formula"?

And for critics on the other side, it's words like "Syria" or "Iran" or "wider regional context" or "new diplomatic offensive." Or even "conference." Any of those is enough to get their dander up. (Or do you consider "Surrender Monkeys" some kind of strange right-wing compliment?)

Then there's "could." "Could" as opposed to "should," as in this sentence -- "By the first quarter of 2008, subject to unexpected developments in the security situation on the ground, all combat brigades not necessary for force protection could be out of Iraq." That one took some negotiating, say the insider accounts. "Should" might have pressed the president harder than he likes being pushed, some panel members felt. Press him too hard and he might toss the whole report into the trash. So they settled for "could" -- more of an option, less of a demand.

But for me, the key word is "now."

Here's the paragraph in question (emphasis added), from the section of the report called "Assessment":

"Iraq is vital to regional and even global stability, and is critical to U.S. interests. It runs along the sectarian fault lines of Shia and Sunni Islam, and of Kurdish and Arab populations. It has the world's second-largest known oil reserves. It is now a base of operations for international terrorism, including al Qaeda."

Which is to say -- the way I read it, at least -- that it wasn't always "a base of operations for international terrorism, including al Qaeda." But "now" it is.

And exactly how, you're allowed to wonder, did that happen? How did Iraq become "a base of operations for international terrorism"?

It's the invasion, stupid. George Bush's invasion. Even a commission determined not to look back, determined not to focus on so much water under the bridge, felt the need -- intellectual honesty? conscience? -- to stick that word "now" in there for the world to see.

Say what you want -- and there's plenty to say -- about the depravity of Saddam Hussein, but one thing Iraq certainly wasn't when he was running the show was an al Qaeda clubhouse. That was, sad to say, our own doing. (Our undoing?)

Sure -- the bin Ladens and Zawahiris of the world were quick to seize the opening we gave them. George Bush has been happy to cite the various bin Laden and Zawahiri statements confirming their murderous intention to take full advantage of any chaos in Iraq; he uses their words to justify our presence there. "See?" the president insists: Even they say that Iraq is "the central front" in the war on terror.

Yes they do. But it wasn't "the central front" -- it wasn't even "a base of operations" -- until we decided to play Toss the Bad Guy. But now it is. Now the place is filled with even worse guys.

Now.

Heckuva job, Mr. President.

Posted 12/13/06. Get award-winning commentary from syndicated columnist Rick Horowitz twice every week.

Rick Horowitz is a syndicated columnist, TV commentator, writing coach and public speaker.

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