ISG Kumbaya Alert: For Globe, Consensus More Important Than Finding Right Answers

Boston Globe/NewsBusters ^ | Mark Finkelstein

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Sure, the recommendations of the Iraq Study Group might be largely useless. But hey, check out all the wonderful consensus - and cue another chorus of Kumbaya! That, in a nutshell, is the message of the Boston Globe's editorial of this morning, Presidential Ingratitude.

Excerpts:

• "Whatever might be questioned in any particular recommendation of the report, the bipartisan spirit and consensus-building purpose of the Iraq Study Group deserve grateful praise from the president, not a defensive rejection."
• "The Iraq Study Group may not have come up with all the right answers; in their pursuit of unanimity, they may have settled for split-the-difference compromises where only one straight path makes sense. But in their bipartisan spirit of cooperation, they gave Americans a much-needed reminder of how statecraft once was conducted."
• "With its revival of the tradition of seeking consensus on foreign policy, the Baker-Hamilton report offers Bush a chance he should not miss."

Message to the Globe editorial board: please go back and read what you just wrote: "The Iraq Study Group may not have come up with all the right answers; in their pursuit of unanimity, they may have settled for split-the-difference compromises where only one straight path makes sense. But in their bipartisan spirit of cooperation, they gave Americans a much-needed reminder of how statecraft once was conducted." "

Surely you can't mean that. With so much at stake, surely you don't believe that it is more important for "statecraft" to achieve consensus than to find "the right answers," do you?

To hell with consensus and Kumbaya. Let's win the war on terror. And if that means bruising the tender egos of Vernon Jordan, Leon Panetta, & Co. you know what? - we can live with that.

Finkelstein recently returned from Iraq. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net

[governsleastgovernsbest]

Kumbaya-alert ping to Today show list.

[MIchaelTArchangel]

You probably have to live in Massghanistan and to observe the way politicians and the schools operate here to realize that consensus is valued more than truth.

[mewzilla]

To me, consensus seems to be the process of abandoning all beliefs, principles, values and policies. So it is something in which no one believes and to which no one objects.

Margaret Thatcher

[mewzilla]

I seem to smell the stench of appeasement in the air.

Margaret Thatcher

[o_zarkman44]

satan laughs.

[sgtbono2002]

***"The Iraq Study Group may not have come up with all the right answers; in their pursuit of unanimity, they may have settled for split-the-difference compromises where only one straight path makes sense. ****

Did the study come up with even ONE RIGHT ANSWER?

If bi-partisan means making compromises that dont work what good is it? One straight path doesnt make sense if its the wrong path.

I suppose its Bi-partisan Lemmeings who go over the cliff, well, at least they are all of the same mind.

[300winmag]

"But in their bipartisan spirit of cooperation, they gave Americans a much-needed reminder of how statecraft once was conducted."

Statecraft as it was once conducted also inclued "politics stops at the water's edge", especially in war time. Now, losing a war is an "acceptable price" for someone else to pay, as long as it hurts President Bush.

[capydick]

....the bipartisan spirit and consensus-building purpose of the Iraq Study Group deserve grateful praise from the president, not a defensive rejection."

I heard the President praise the report, it's bipartisan spirit and the hard work that went into it by it's members. Just another example that no matter what the President does or says, it will never be good enough for these guys.

[Obie Wan]

It's the Boston Globe. It' has about the same credibility as the National Enquirer, in other words a yellow journalism rag most suitable to line the bottom of bird cages !!!

[Clifford The Big Red Dog]

Got a better one for you.

"All compromise displays weakness."
-Julius Caesar

[Clifford The Big Red Dog]

"they gave Americans a much-needed reminder of how statecraft once was conducted."

_________________________________________

Yep, it sure does remind us of how appeasem...er..statecraft is done.

[Mo1]

Surely you can't mean that. With so much at stake, surely you don't believe that it is more important for "statecraft" to achieve consensus than to find "the right answers," do you?

Yes they do ... For some odd reason they think wars are about a popularity contest

Not once do they think or talk about the consequences that could happen if all of the IRSG suggestions are implemented

[daviddennis]

Well, guys, you know, this editorial is absolutely right!

But in their bipartisan spirit of cooperation, they gave Americans a much-needed reminder of how statecraft once was conducted.

Well, exactly, and how inept the process was, and how lame the results were, and how poor an idea it would be to give these folks a seat at the table..

D

[ViLaLuz]

Welcome to the New World Order--"Leadership" by consensus.

[AmericaUnite]

As Rush always says, "You can't negotiate with evil. Evil always wins."

[LiteKeeper]

Hooah!!!