Framing the Argument

George Bush and his new best pal, John McCain, are on the attack against opponents of Bush's latest experiment, the Baghdad Surge.

Bush's retort has been for the opponents to come out with a better plan. McCain has said opponents must tell Americans what will happen if the US withdraws.

If there was ever a time for the opposition to keep the initiative it is now and that has to be done by framing the argument. The onus here is on Bush and McCain. Let them answer the tough questions both men have been carefully avoiding:

What if this surge fails just like all the previous tactics?

Why only 17,000 more troops for Baghdad when the Pentagon's own experts know that more than 60,000 are actually needed to "hold" the city's most dangerous neighbourhoods?

How long is this surge going to last?

On what criteria is the surge to be judged a success or a failure?

What is the plan if the surge fails?

What US military commitments will follow the surge in the unlikely event it succeeds?

What if Maliki doesn't meet his benchmarks?

When will American forces be withdrawn from Iraq?

These are just some of the questions that need answering and there are many more that should be put to the president and the senator from Arizona. One of the key reasons America is in the mess it is today is the utter failure of the American media to put the obvious tough questions to the administration ever since 11 September, 2001.

Bush and McCain need to be answering questions, not those opposed to the surge. Bush has been deceitful and grossly negligent throughout the course of the invasion and occupation. It is not for him to simply ignore that reality. He must prove, to the satisfaction of the American people, that they should trust him again.