Petraeus and Bush

Gene Lyons discusses those two gentlemen and their Iraq War in Mystery man Arkansas Democrat-Gazette 07/25/07. I'm not quite sure which of the two the title refers to, though. Bush, I think. Here's Lyons on Petraeus:

The great hero of Baghdad, however, is expected to be Gen. David Patraeus. The president invoked his name 11 times on July 12. Bush having cashiered all the generals who opposed his “surge,” it’s to this mighty Caesar a war-weary nation is expected to turn for an objective appraisal of Iraq policy come September. ...

To hear Petraeus tell it, the U. S. has turned more corners in Iraq than a stable of barrel racing horses. Six weeks before the 2004 presidential election, he wrote a Washington Post column claiming that victory was imminent, largely because of the fighting spirit of Iraqi soldiers whom Petraeus himself had trained—an effort that’s quietly been all but abandoned.

On evidence, Petraeus appears to be a familiar American type, a capable soldier combining strong right-wing views and dreadful political judgment. Compare, for example, MacArthur, Gen. Douglas C.

And Lyons on Bush:

On July 13, Bush invited a platoon of conservative columnists to the White House to admire his steely resolve. ... One conservative who wasn't invited is The Wall Street Journal’s Peggy Noonan. Citing a "rock-ribbed Republican friend" who told her, "I don’t believe a word that comes out of his mouth," Noonan admits being creeped out by "the president’s seemingly effortless high spirits.... His Iraq leadership has failed. His standing is lower than any previous president’s since polling began. He’s in a good mood. Discuss.” Some of the diagnostic criteria for Narcissistic Personality Disorder are as follows: "a grandiose sense of self-importance," "fantasies of unlimited success, power," "requires excessive admiration," "strong sense of entitlement," "takes advantage of others," "lacks empathy” and “arrogant affect." It’s the classic con man’s personality. For such an emotional cripple, every day being genuflected to and addressed as "Mr. President" would be “Mission Accomplished” Day.

Tags: bush, gene lyons, iraq war