What Will to Win?

On a day when the Washington Post carried a story about whether Vice President Richard Cheney's aide lied about his role in attacking those who questioned the administration's rationale for going to war in Iraq, his daughter was on the editorial page attacking those who question the administration's current role in Iraq.

Some readers may not have put the two together as the Post declined to identify Liz Cheney as the Vice President's daughter, saying only that The writer is former principal deputy assistant secretary of state for Near Eastern affairs. Granted there may not be a lot people would want to be listed as his daughter, but it should have been mentioned.

In traditional GOP hit style, Cheney immediately went after Hillary Clinton, and then the rest of the Democrats, with the only surprise being that she couldn't find a place to attack Sen. John Kerry.

Ms. Cheney plea was for Americans to support the Administration Iraq plan for the troops (Stay and Die) as anything else would embolden the terrorists. Actually what has emboldened the terrorists is the Iraq invasion. Just about the whole world supported the United States' war in Afghanistan as it came against those who actually attacked the United States.

Imagine the reaction of al-Qaeda if the US had captured Osama Bin Laden instead of Saddam Hussein, had set up a large presence in Afghanistan and set that country on the road to democracy?

Perhaps Afghanistan's neighbor (Iran) would have thought twice about making nuclear noises with 150,000 US troops nearby and not under attack. The terrorists, who were on the run and were lacking support, might have been routed rather than reinvigorated by the actions in Iraq.

In Afghanistan the people did view the U.S. as liberators, in fact all the theories the administration wanted to test in Iraq might have worked in Afghanistan, yet the Cheney's and the administration apparently had "other priorities."

Bush/Cheney went AWOL on Afghanistan rather than being in the fight to win, as his daughter said we should be in Iraq. Now the U.S. is left with few good options and even military officials question whether the proposed surge will provide long term results.

If Ms. Cheney really believes we must be in this war to win, perhaps she could convince the President that he could show his commitment by having Barbara and Jenna sign up for the military. Afterall Al Gore was willing to support his father by signing up for Vietnam, which is more than can be said of George or Dick.

Until then one has to question Bush & Cheney's will to win and the "steel in their spine."