Here's what I thought you'd like to hear about today:

1. Is Iran Helping the Insurgency in Iraq?
2. How long will we be in Iraq?
3. Press Gone Wild

Is Iran Helping the Insurgency in Iraq?

In a recent blog post, the sometimes hysterical Andrew Sullivan thought that he'd caught General Pace, and by extension Donald Rumsfeld, in a lie. This is one of Sullivan's hobbies, and he cited a press conference at the Pentagon to prove his point. I'll read Andrew's blog post, with the actual speakers talking, followed by a clip of the rest of the answer at the 3/14 Pentagon briefing. Thanks to the Pentagon Channel Podcast for the audio of the press conference, and Whitehouse.gov for the President's remarks. Sullivan should be ashamed of himself. From the Daily Dish:

Bush vs Pace

15 Mar 2006 12:11 pm

Just when you think this administration may have learned something about exaggerating claims or saying things that are not rock-solid in the war on terror, you get the following contrast. On Monday, the president said the following:

"Some of the most powerful IEDs we are seeing in Iraq today includes components that came from Iran.
Our director of national intelligence, John Negroponte, told the Congress, Tehran has been responsible for at least some of the increasing lethality of anti-coalition attacks by providing Shia militia with the capability to build improvised explosive devices in Iraq.
Coalition forces have seized IEDs and components that were clearly produced in Iran. Such actions, along with Iran's support for terrorism and its pursuit of nuclear weapons, are increasingly isolating Iran."

Yesterday's Pentagon press conference elicited the following exchange, acording to Reuters:

"President George W. Bush said on Monday components from Iran were being used in powerful roadside bombs used in Iraq, and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said last week that Iranian Revolutionary Guard personnel had been inside Iraq.
Asked whether the United States has proof that Iran's government was behind these developments, Marine Corps Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the military's Joint Chiefs of Staff, told a Pentagon briefing, 'I do not, sir.'"

I cannot imagine it's a good idea for the president to offer what is billed as an honest assesssment of what's going on in Iraq, while his chief military commander sees no proof for the accusation. We've just learned not to trust what this president says about Iran. It keeps getting better, doesn't it?

Now listen to the rest of the answer to the question

Play second part of clip.

Sullivan failed to acknowledge that Pace was answering the very narrow questions of "proof of Iranian government involvement". But there is clearly more to the story than that disingenous "gotcha" moment that Sullivan indicated. Shame on him.

How Long will we be in Iraq?

Play clip.

We don't want any 40-year-olds who can't ride a bike.

Press Gone Wild

Play clips.

I wonder if these guys get a kick out of looking like fools every day in front of a national TV audience.