For days now, we have been reading stories about Michael; Moore's screed against President Bush - too partisan, too extreme, to simplistic. And about the "transfer of sovereignty" to the Iraqis - which was "a step forward," "good news," "progress," "a last chance to make the policy work."
Well, Michael Moore may not be an advertisement for good journalism, but he says up front that journalism was not his intention. He was editorializing.
The press has no such excuse. We did not transfer sovereignty, except in a most abstract sense. We bugged out. (Give Paul Bremer credit for that quick, symbolic flight out of Baghdad. The obvious symbolism - my job here is done, Hi Yo, Silver. Away! - almost obscured the reality, which is that our job there is not done.)
The whole theatrical performance is part of the White House's strategy to reelect the President. And thanks to the credulous press, it's already working.
First, we have had TV and newspaper headlines proclaiming a transfer of power. Wrong! We retain the power in Iraq, if not control.
Secondly, this drama has already relegated to the back pages:
One, that American soldiers keep dying in Iraq. (That they are dying in Afghanistan, too, at the hands of the Taliban, has long been on page 12.)
Two, that we the taxpayers are continuing to subsidize the military effort and the reconstruction. And, according to an older and wiser Paul Wolfowitz, will do so for years to come.
Three, there was no Iraq-al Qaeda collaboration in 9/11, according to the investigating Commission of Democrats and Republicans.
Yeah, that Michael Moore should be ashamed of himself. Why can't he do what the professional journalists do?