Hoot of Attack: Première Partie

I'm finally getting around to reading Woodward's Plan of Attack. It's a hoot. A regular laugh riot, Alice.

I'm sure Woodward didn't intend for his "definitive account of the decision to invade Iraq" to be a hoot. It's just that Time is being such a petulant bitch with the Bush administration, and so now as you turn each page, irony is sent corkscrewing into new dimensions.

For example, here's a cocky little Rumsfeld at an early press briefing on the war in Afghanistan [p 37]:

"This is fantastic! I've got a laser pointer!" Rumsfeld said to laughter after being handed the latest in briefing tools. "Holy mackeral!" He had not only the Taliban and al Qaeda on the run but also, to a certain extent, the media, and he was enjoying it thoroughly.

"How much of it frankly is a surprise?" one reporter asked, referring to the quick close in Afghanistan.

"I think that what was taking place in the earlier phases was exactly as planned," Rumsfeld said. "It looked like nothing was happening. Indeed, it looked like we were in a" -- and he asked the room to join in -- "all together now -- QUAGMIRE!"

Rummy, Rummy, Rummy -- never taunt the gods.