White House On Iraq: 'We've Thrown Out The Rose-Colored Glasses'

Earlier today, Deputy Press Secretary Tony Fratto made a startling admission, suggesting that, at some point in the past, the White House regarded the events in Iraq with undue optimism:

Q Also, how does this latest violence in Iraq and the latest uncertainty about what's going on color the Petraeus-Crocker testimony this time around? It obviously has changed the equation. I mean, weeks ago it looked like the surge was -- you know, had this pretty rosy cast, and now with all this renewed violence, I think it has changed the dynamics. So how has this changed the equation?

MR. FRATTO: Well, I think we've thrown out all of the rose-colored glasses in how we look at Iraq, and try to look at it through clear lenses as to what is actually going on in the country. And what is happening there, I think what we are all seeing is that the Iraqi political leadership is trying to take hold of the security for their country. They took a very bold, aggressive action in Basra. It wasn't a overall success, but it -- but we learned a lot about what the capabilities of the Iraqi army are, and we learned a lot -- and maybe this is even the most important thing -- of what the capabilities and intentions of the Iraqi leadership are to go after criminal elements and illegal militias in their country, and to evenly enforce the rule of law across the country.

Oh, for a press corps with the intellectual rigor of the good folks at ThinkProgress, who astutely wondered, "When exactly did the White House throw away its rose-colored glasses?"

I'd suggest we flash back to March 5, 2008, the day President Bush endorsed GOP nominee John McCain, and subject the video of their joint appearance to greater scrutiny. Because based upon the remarks of John McCain and his surrogates, it appears as though he passed those rose-colored glasses on to his would-be successor.

We know that Bush had the glasses just before the endorsement announcement. Remember? He was tap dancing.

Comments

[forpeace]

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American Troops Going Insane--www.freedomfighterradio.net

God bless America?

Would god bless this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tq5_vG3cYGM

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[fignozzle]

i do not believe that He would.

[Dyogenes]

Seems McCain et al resurrected them from the Re-cycle bin.

[aznurse]

Sir, they weren't rose colored glasses, they were covered in blood

[BeyondGoodAndEvil]

They need to take off their blinders, not their rose colored glasses.

[grannysharp]

What glasses? rose colored or plain, they seam to be blind to the truth and needs of the American people and cant seam to see what they are also doing to the people of Iraq

[batgirlevi]

More lies.

[helonias]

Yoo Tony whats your definition of lying?

[booksnmore4you]

Gee, I never had rose colored glasses on abot all this. What's with the frekin' white House?

[indie17]

Review McCain's history on this war.

http://votevets.org/pages/?id=0006

[tililek]

Will the General have the rosy glasses now?

Surely, since the Shias were having a 'cease fire' of their own, the surge seemed to be a success. Now with the Shias actively chasing Americans we'll learn that the surge was an illusion?

[PacificGatePost]

WHY FEAR WITHDRAWAL?

It is time to give Iraqis their nation back before too few are left to remember that most Shiite, Sunni or Kurd Iraqis described themselves as Iraqis above all else and religious or sectarian group members second…..

http://pacificgatepost.blogspot.com/2008/04/why-fear-withdrawal-from-iraq.html

[harriscrl3]

The good News in 9 more months we'll be THROWING out the President and his VP.

Carol

[Titonwan]

And indicting them on multiple counts of War Crimes against the state and humanity.

[schatsie]

Sorry but Bush will slime thru all this...He will prospectively pardon the entire Executive Branch and appeal to HIS Supreme Court which will just bend over for him....

[Canaris]

If by "evenly enforce the law across the country" Fratto means "try to wipe out the Shia opposition before provincial elections" then yes, that is exactly what is going on.

Is it true that Fratto means "spin" in Italian?

[LanosIceland]

Same same. Instead of working to achieve results that reflect the cultural make-up and wishes of Iraqa citizens, the Administration attempt to erase one political faction to the benefit of another continues. Addiction to the failures of the past (Allende, Ortega, Hamas); instead of acceepting the democratically elected and legitimate representation of the people, Bush assists the militias of the Dawa and Badr movements in the elimination of their 'main political rivals' in the Sadr Movement. Bush proves time and again that The U.S under his leadership is not interested in nation building, after all, nation building is not good for the military segment of the economy(his friends) or the price of oil(his very good friends). The U.S is doing everything in it's power to deny the Sadrist movement, a faction with almost 3million followers, from having a say in the political process simply because they're against the occupation of their country, and furthermore, because the Sadrist Movement is for a domestic policy of nationalising Iraqs oil. There's nothing wrong with nationalising the only resource your country has, to ensure that the people's wealth ultimately benefit the people.
How many more will have to die to satisfy the imperial madness of the Bush and Cheny clans in their attempt to forcefully implement policies upon a people agaainst their wishes. Enough of empire. With great power comes great responsibility; It's time for diplomacy, fairness, and common sense, Mr Bush. Help the Iraqi build a nation, not a catastrophe.

[Joshuaack]

Hey, Fratto actually means either "split" or "fractional". You could sort of use it for split personality, which kind of applies to the context. Oh and if you add an "s" and make it to "sfratto", that means eviction. What's in a name...

[caywen]

Oh, I'm sorry, pardon me. So I must have misheard, so you (the Bush admin) had rose colored glasses these past 5 years, is that right?

[filo]

Yes and they threw them away FIVE YEARS TOO LATE!!!

[larry278]

What about the opaque dark glasses, blinders & blind folds?
larry lynch