President Bush Fights on Front Lines in Iraq

In the latest demonstration of the Bush Administration's flagrant disregard for reality in general as well as the more specific human costs of war, White House Press Secretary Tony Snow asserted that President Bush fights the war in Iraq everyday.

Mr. Snow dismissed the realities of war and the deaths of more then 3,500 American soldiers when he brushed aside Veteran White House reporter Helen Thomas' question:

Ms. Thomas: The President said in his speech that -- to expect many more casualties. How many more Americans is he willing to sacrifice to keep this war going?

MR. SNOW: You know, what's interesting, Helen, is if you ask the people who are -- if you take a look at what's going on in recruitment right now, the people who are most likely to sign up are the people who are involved in combat operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. And if you talk to a number of them, they feel that they are part of something very special, which is something that is certainly a difficult mission, but it also reflects the finest traditions of the United States of America, which is what people are fighting for -- to liberate others and to extend the boundaries of liberty, and to create the possibility for allies who are going to be not only allies in the war on terror, but examples of exactly the power of freedom.

The President wishes that nobody had to die. This is something that is deeply personal. He quite often meets with families of those who have been wounded and killed. On the other hand, the real question is, what happens if the United States walks away? And the answer is that many, many more people will be washed away in needless bloodshed as forces of terror draw confidence and encouragement from the fact that we will not have finished the job.

Ms. Thomas: I have one follow-up. Are there any members of the Bush family or this administration in this war?

MR. SNOW: Yes, the President. The President is in the war every day.

Ms. Thomas: Come on. That isn't my question.

MR. SNOW: If you ask any President who is a Commander-in-Chief --

Ms. Thomas: On the front lines -- [where ever]

MR. SNOW: The President.

(ThinkProgress has video)

Mr. Snow begins by responding to a simple, pointed, and legitimate question with with pompous braggadocio about the honor and and sense of duty in service to America that members of the military feel. The fact that some soldiers in Iraq feel as though they are fighting for liberty and a just cause has nothing to do with how many more of those young men and women Mr. Bush is willing to let die. This rhetorical dodge has become the weapon of choice for war supporters and it should be noted that none of its practitioners are active duty soldiers fighting in Iraq. Increasingly servicemen in Iraq have questioned why they are still there and when they might be coming home. One of the very few times that an interviewer has refused to accept this talking point in place of answer came during a Daily Show appearance by Senator John McCain, who frequently speaks of honor and fighting for liberty when asked about the human cost of the war. Jon Stewart, who claims to not be a journalist, tells Mr. McCain that he has failed to answer the question and it is instantly clear that Mr. McCain, and Iraq war supporters in general, have no answer to questions about American deaths in Iraq (Watch Mr. Stewart discuss the interview with Bill Moyers).

Ms. Thomas' follow up question and Mr. Snow's response highlight the disregard that the Administration has for the soldiers fighting and dying in Iraq. The Bush Administration continues to send other people's children, husbands and wives, fathers and daughters to fight and die halfway around the world. The Administration has no tangible connection to the true costs of war and as such they are able to dismiss casualties as mere statistics and dismiss all questions and concerns as a failure to 'support the troops' who Mr. Bush sends to Iraq for increasingly longer deployments, with less and less time to recuperate, and has still failed to arm and equip properly.

Mr. Snow's attempt to equate Mr. Bush's role as Commander in Chief to serving in Iraq is extremely ludicrous. Unfortunately is passes as fairly normal fare from the current administration and far too few journalists are interested in pointing out just how far removed from reality and understanding Mr. Bush and his supporters have become.