Suckers!

(White House photo by Eric Draper)

Thursday's meeting between president Bush and former Secretaries of State and Defense was billed as a "bipartisan consultation" for past heads to input their ideas on Iraq and the Middle East.

According to CNN, however, it didn't go quite as smoothly as planned. After a glowing 40 minute briefing by administration personnel updating current conditions in Iraq, previous Secretary of State, "Uncle Tom" Powell sat quietly, never speaking a word. Many present suffered ear drum damage from his deafening silence.

Then President Clinton's Sec. of State, Madeleine Albright, seemingly disturbed by the rosy update report, placed a bur under Bush's saddle when she implied Iraq was draining his attention from other important issues.

An agitated Bush shot back, "I can't let this comment stand." The 5-10 minute input meeting was quickly adjourned by Bush. As DAVID E. SANGER of The New York Times writes, Bush herded "the whole group into the Oval Office for what he called a 'family picture.'"

But not before the president said, "The main thrust of our success will be when the Iraqis are able to take the fight to the enemy that wants to stop their democracy and we're making darn good progress along those lines," Bush said. (Dada swears this is similar to something the president may have said once or twice before in the past three years.)

(NOTE: Regarding the "good progress" the president alluded to, Dada reminds readers of the example set in Iraq the same day Bush said this: 140 slaughtered, including 11 U.S. military members dead. Another Bush "good progress" day!)

But I digress. After adjourning to the Oval Office for their "family picture", former heads of the State and Defense Departments still wishing to address Bush's Iraq policy, were shuttled across the hall to talk with Stephen J. Hadley, the National Security Adviser, and Gen. Peter Pace, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

As William J. Perry, who served as defense secretary under President Bill Clinton said of Bush's meeting, "The message was, briefly stated, that the political process is working."

And what of Bush, vice-president Cheney, our secretary of state, Chevron oil tanker Condoleezza Rice, and defense secretary Rumsfeld? Unfortunately, they were not present to hear the wisdom of their predecessors. They had left for "other meetings".

It is at this point that Dada would like to remind readers of the Bush appearance on the rubbled heap of the post-9/11 World Trade Center with his arm around a retired fireman. Of Bush's post-Katrina remarks in front of a group of out-of-state firemen taken from their rescue efforts to pose behind Bush as an evening news release op. Of the thousands who have committed themselves to sit behind the president as he travels around the nation hawking whatever he's selling at the moment.

To those former Secretaries of State and Defense who may have felt slighted by the president, take heart. As with all of president Bush's back drop "supporters", whether sincere or deceived, Dada would suggest, "You have been duped!"

The president was not interested in hearing your opinions or listening to your suggestions on Iraq. Never mind the incredible experience represented by your presence there. Bush had no desire to glean the wisdoms of your expertise, i.e., he didn't wanna hear your shit! No, you were invited to the White House for a Bush photo-op!

No, the venerable group of former leaders of the State were there for one purpose only--as stage props for a Bush photo. But Dada has to admit, it's a picture worthy of a real president. Just looking at it, doesn't it seem to dignify and validate the invalid policies for which Bush is increasingly under fire. And for Bush, he got what he wanted--his picture surrounded by bright folks, some of whom disagree with his war, but appear to be endorsing it!

Thanks. Or, as Bush would probably say, "Gotcha, suckers!"