Confidence game

Newly installed Secretary of Defense, Robert Gates, and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice appeared before the House Armed Services Committee and faced a pounding about Bush's plans to escalate the war in Iraq. Republican Senator Chuck Hagel, having long since left the farm of war, said,

I think this speech given last night by this president represents the most dangerous foreign policy blunder in this country since Vietnam, if it's carried out.

Bill Nelson (D-Fl) seems to have finally figured something out.

I have not been told the truth over and over again by administration witnesses, and the American people have not been told the truth.

A lot of this. But at one point, Secretary Gates admitted something, something that does not assuage concerns that were never raised during his kissy confirmation hearing.

"I would confess I'm no expert on Iraq.” Later, asked about reaching the right balance between American and Iraqi forces, he told the panel he was “no expert on military matters.”

Hardly a ringing endorsement of Gates' appointment or of the ridiculously lax manner by which the Senate confirmed him. And, once again, the White House expects the American public to have confidence in their "plan," while exhibiting absolutely no reason as why such confidence should be given. Next we'll learn that Gates actually spent a great deal of time driving an ice cream truck before he was appointed to run the US military.