By Lt. Colonel Rick Francona
Saddam Hussein’s rule affected virtually everyone in Iraq. Everyone has a story. Here’s mine:
In 1995 and 1996, I was involved in the CIA’s covert operations to overthrow Saddam Hussein, operating from several Middle East countries bordering Iraq, as well as inside the Kurdish-controlled area of Iraq itself. One of these operations was to support of the Iraq National Accord (INA) under Dr. Iyad Alawi. One of Alawi’s key colleagues was a retired Iraqi military officer, General Muhammad Abdullah Al-Shahwani. Al-Shawani had relocated outside Iraq, but his three sons were serving in the Iraqi Army Republican Guard.
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All the pundits and publicity now focus on Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama to win the Democratic presidential nomination in 2008.
Don’t get stampeded into believing all this. When it comes time for the Democrats of Iowa and other early contests to pick someone to run they will be looking for the candidate who is the best shot at winning in November.
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By Bob Shrum
Gerald Ford was, above all, a decent man. Ironically, his very decency undid him barely a month into his term as the 38th President. After restoring a measure of public faith when he succeeded a disgraced Richard Nixon, forced from office for complicity in a “third-rate burglary” and more profound abuses of power, the unelected Ford let Alexander Haig talk him into suddenly and unexpectedly pardoning his predecessor. The new president had won the nation’s confidence in ways large and small—his inaugural words proclaiming that “our long national nightmare is over” to photos of him preparing his own toast for breakfast. Now he angered and alienated Americans by yielding prematurely to the argument that a criminal investigation of an allegedly suicidal Nixon would be inhumane and “bad for the country.” Ford might have gotten away with a pardon—his decision might have been seen as the decent but misguided act it probably was—if he had waited. He could have given Nixon his get-out-of-jail-free card after an indictment and before a trial. But he would have had to prepare public opinion and let the idea emerge, instead of announcing it like a thunder-clap before Nixon had faced the special prosecutor. The Ford presidency was instantly under water because people rejected the notion that presidents were that far above the law.< CONTINUED >>
By Chris Matthews
Jerry Ford was the country’s life preserver. He became president in August of 1974 just as the dark cloud of Watergate had descended on us. Yet there, in the midst of the corruption and confusion, appeared this decent fellow with a clear sense of himself and his country.
President Ford was a politician but also a human being, a combination that should not seem rare in the best of times but certainly did in those odd days at the final days of the Nixon presidency.
I worked for Speaker Tip O’Neill during the 1980s. He was a Democrat. One of his best friends in Congress was Jerry Ford, a Republican. They hung out with each other, argued with each other on the House floor, played golf with each other, went on trips together.
Now that Tip and Jerry are gone, I hope their brand of bi-partisan friendship isn’t too.
A federal judge strongly admonished an attorney for former ambassador Joseph Wilson for her appearance yesterday on MSNBC's program "Hardball" where she predicted a jury can find I Lewis "Scooter" Libby guilty of making false statements. Read the full story | Read the order against Wilson's attorney
Here's the video from last night's appearance
Yesterday, Hardball taped the final stop on the 2006 college tour with Robert De Niro and Matt Damon at George Mason University. Chris Matthews talked to the actors about their new movie, “The Good Shepherd” – a story about the early history of the CIA through the eyes of one man (Damon’s character) – and how the facts behind the movie relate to today’s political climate.
The show will air Monday at 5 and 7 p.m. ET, but here's a sneak peek of what's coming...
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“He’ll decide after the holidays”????? You’ve got to be kidding me. Nothing should interrupt the president’s holidays? Bob Gate’s? Condoleezza Rice’s? I couldn’t believe I heard that coming out of the White House. The president will not make any decisions or changes to his current Iraq policy until after the holidays. After all, they said on background – he only has one chance to get it right. This after Gates acknowledged in his confirmation hearings that Iraq had nothing to do with 9/11 and the White House officially said they would change course in Iraq. Two admissions that were not forthcoming heretofore. CONTINUED >>
Maybe it's because I've already had my winter cold, but so far I have avoided contracting the "Obama fever" now making the rounds among the news media. Especially after reading his book - which is his most substantive accomplishment to date - I just don't get it. Barack Obama is an interesting character, but presidential?!?! Just take a look at the silly passages in his book, The Audacity of Hope, where he gets all giddy about riding around in private jets, going on and on about "spotless" restrooms with "mechanical shoe-shine machines" and "lounges that feature big soft couches and big screen TVs." Until early this year he was seemingly oblivious to the ethical questions about who is subsidizing such travel, but nowadays he reimburses his corporate benefactors for the cushy flights. Perhaps Obama's zeal for elite transportation fuels his White House drive - I hear they have nice couches on Air Force One.
Read more of Craig's thoughts at CrawfordsList.com.
By Lt. Colonel Rick Francona, MSNBC Military Analyst
The Iraq Study Group released its report today after nine months of meetings, interviews and travels. The bottom line is a recommendation that the United States transition its force structure in Iraq from one of primarily combat forces to one of a military training mission, while at the same time diplomatically engaging Iran and Syria. The report also concludes that a solution to the Arab-Israeli problem is essential to achieving American goals in the region.
There does not appear to be anything new here, nor has anything especially prescient – this is what been leaked over the past few weeks. Much of what the study group recommends is already in progress. Senior military officers have advocated increased training of Iraqi security forces – police, army, border forces, etc - for the last two years. In fact, the primary focus of the last year has been a new emphasis on training the Iraqis. This has always been part of the plan: as Iraq forces become more capable, American combat forces can withdraw – and only then.
Probably the most contentious of the recommendations is the call for a “diplomatic and political offensive” engaging regional players, including Iran and Syria.
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