Hidden in plain sight:

Iraq is a mess and has deteriorated over the years. So what happens now? From the NYTimes In White House, Debate Is Rising on Iraq Pullback, this: (emp add)

White House officials [...] say that [...] debate is intensifying over whether Mr. Bush should [...] begin a gradual withdrawal of American troops from the high-casualty neighborhoods of Baghdad and other cities.

Last week, Mr. Bush’s national security adviser, Stephen J. Hadley, called in from a brief vacation to join intense discussions in sessions that included Karl Rove, Mr. Bush’s longtime strategist, and Joshua B. Bolten, the White House chief of staff.

They described Mr. Hadley as deeply concerned that the loss of Republicans could accelerate this week, a fear shared by Mr. Rove. But they also said that Mr. Rove had warned that if Mr. Bush went too far in announcing a redeployment, the result could include a further cascade of defections — and the passage of legislation that would force a withdrawal by a specific date, a step Mr. Bush has always said he would oppose.

There you have it. Political advisor Karl Rove is part of the team that determines the implementation of the Iraq project. Why would any Iraq War supporter be pleased to learn that? Whatever Rove advocates, it's going to be about politics, not tactics or diplomacy. Rove's influence cannot help but reduce, even if it's just by a bit, the chances of success in finishing the Iraq mission. You would think that just for appearance's sake, they would hide Rove. But there he is, out there in plain sight.


posted by Quiddity at 7/09/2007 12:30:00 AM