Kristol defends 'widely mocked' op-ed on 'why Bush will be a winner' Will Menaker

Published: Monday July 16, 2007 Print This Email This In an online chat at Washingtonpost.com on Monday, neo-conservative pundit Bill Kristol discussed his recent op-ed piece, "Why Bush Will Be a Winner" in which he predicts the Bush presidency will be seen as successful. The column has been widely mocked for its magical thinking from everyone from Arianna Huffington to Kristol's fellow Time Magazine columnist Jay Carney. Kristol urged Americans to "look at the broad forest rather than the often unlovely trees. What do we see? First, no second terrorist attack on U.S. soil-- not something we could have taken for granted. Second, a strong economy -- also something that wasn't inevitable. And third, and most important, a war in Iraq that has been very difficult, but where -- despite some confusion engendered by an almost meaningless 'benchmark' report last week -- we now seem to be on course to a successful outcome." "What's next?" Time's Carney asked. "Promises that Iraqis will welcome new rotations of American G.I.'s with roses?" In his online chat, Kristol was taken to task almost immediately for his record of Iraq-related prognostication, with one reader asking, "you have been wrong about every important prediction you have made about the outcome of this war and this presidency -- why should anyone pay attention to you now?" To which Kristol responded, "Feel free not to!" When asked about the possibility that no significant progress will be made in Iraq by the time of Gen. Petraeus' September report, Kristol stated that a troop draw-drown would be likely, saying, "it will be very, very difficult to sustain any support for the war, and the debate will be over how to get out." He was also confronted about his assertion that Bush is to be credited for the fact that there has been no follow-up terrorist attack in America since 9/11. One reader reminds him that terrorists operate on a different clock that we are used to, reminding Kristol that "they are incredibly patient, and just because no attack has occured since Sept. 11, that is no indication that attacks are not planned." Another reader put it this way, "Ever since I bought this tiger-repelling rock I have not been attacked by a tiger, hence the rock is clearly working." Kristol maintained that most experts predicted a much greater level of success for terrorist attacks on America after 9/11.



