The Wounded-Courier: Bush Appoints Al Qaeda No. 2 Man “War Czar”

WASHINGTON – In a new video released yesterday, Ayman al-Zawahiri, Osama bin Laden’s second in command, made a strong plea for American forces to remain in Iraq, calling Democratic legislation that would impose a timetable for troop withdrawal an admission of “America’s failure and frustration.”

And someone in the White House was listening.

President Bush confirmed this morning that his administration’s long search for a war czar to oversee the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan is over: al-Zawahiri is their man.

National Security Advisor Stephen J. Hadley, who led the search to fill this new cabinet position, said he was “very confident” in Mr. al-Zawahiri’s abilities and that’s why he suggested him during a phone call to the president late last night. 

“No one has made the case for the necessity of U.S. soldiers to stay in Iraq better than has Mr. al-Zawahiri,” Hadley said on Meet the Press this morning. When asked by host Tim Russert if creating the position of war czar (Hadley prefers “implementation and execution manager”) was an effort to distance himself from an unpopular war, Hadley replied, “You know, Tim, I heard some talk in the media about that. But my job is to keep this train running. People have already seen what Mr. Al-Zawahiri can do as far as shaping his message to bolster this president’s war strategy. But when the American people see what can happen when he works directly with President Bush, I think talk about finding someone else to absorb the public’s frustration will be exposed as nothing more than partisan fiction.”

Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, appearing on Face the Nation with Bob Schieffer, expressed her full confidence in Mr. Hadley’s choice. “Look, Stephen is a very, uh, capable person. And so when he says that Mr. al-Zawahiri is the right man for the job, I trust his assessment 100%.” But Schieffer questioned what many in Washington are considering the boldest move yet in the president’s evolving Iraq strategy: “This is one of the key men who masterminded 9/11, arguably the man, as he’s considered the brains behind Bin Laden. His mentor. Can you really justify hiring him?” Rice, her brow knitted, explained, “Bob, we have been charged by the American people to win this war on terror. When we don’t talk with our enemies, the Democrats and the media say we aren’t being diplomatic enough, or we’re not exhausting all avenues of political engagement. You know, we’re damned if we do and damned if we don’t. I can’t think of a better way to have an inside track on this war than for the president to have Mr. al-Zawahiri’s ear round-the-clock.”

Vice President Dick Cheney, who sat down with Tim Russert following Hadley’s segment, called the appointment of al-Zawahiri “more incontrovertible proof of the connection between Iraq and al Qaeda.” When Russert noted that al-Zawahiri’s new role as war czar didn’t necessarily have a correlation to Saddam Hussein being connected to the 9/11 attacks, Cheney responded, “Uh, Tim, I think it’s pretty clear-cut what the reality is, and to deny it at this point, frankly, gravely risks providing comfort to the enemy. Since I trust you appreciate the life this job affords you, and your role in Washington, I suggest you not miss a beat and do that thing you do where we immediately move on to another question and pretend this part of the discussion never took place.”

On Fox News Sunday, Weekly Standard editor William Kristol called al-Zawahiri’s hiring a “full-frontal assault on the war on terror, in which the normal rules of engagement must be tossed out the window.” Kristol went to say, “Whereas much of our foreign policy has revolved around the age-old aphorism ‘the enemy of my enemy is my friend,’ the Bush administration has wisely cut out the middle man. Now, unfettered, they can work hand-in-hand with our enemies.” But Salon columnist Glenn Greenwald wrote today that “while many Americans, not to mention people around the world, have long found the timing of these al Qaeda tapes more than a little suspect, the Bush administration seems to be saying, ‘Whoop! There it is!’”

President Bush, boarding Air Force One this morning, said, “Mr. al-Zawahiri is the right man for the job. I stand by Stephen Hadley’s choice all the way.” When asked about the inherent day-to-day difficulties in working with a known international fugitive, Mr. Bush didn’t seem too phased by the challenge. “Conference calls. Email. Text messaging. It is 2007. Look, Mr. al-Zawahiri will be a freelance but dedicated employee of this White House. Together we’ll get the work of the people done.”

So far Mr. al-Zawahiri could not be reached for comment.

Comments

[MediaBloodhound]

Bush Appoints Al Qaeda No. 2 Man “War Czar”

[nowwithmorehair]

Damn...I had my money on the axed Yankees strength coach.

[MediaBloodhound]

Too liberal.

[phydeaux speaks]

I still think they'll give the job to Rummy.