Mullings: An American Cyber-column By Rich Galen

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Keeping Our Eye on the Ball

Monday, September 8, 2003

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The President's address to the nation, last night, reminded us why we are in Iraq and why we have been in Afghanistan. There is a management theory which tells us that to make full use of an organization's capabilities, its leaders must be able to clearly describe the:

- Vision
- Goals
- Strategies
- Tactics
- Projects

VERY briefly; America's Vision is to make the world safer by proving to terrorists everywhere that America will help people of goodwill regain control of their countries.

The Goals are for the people of Iraq to live in peace, in freedom, under a democratic system of governance by ridding the country of terrorists and the remnants of Saddam's regime.

The Strategies for Iraq are for the inhabitants of Iraq to take control of their country and their own futures as quickly as possible.

The Tactics include the formation of the Ruling Council which has begun choosing Cabinet Ministers who are beginning to take control of the day-to-day technical activities which go into running a country.

Projects involve using Iraqi and non-Iraqi resources to rebuild the civil infrastructure and to provide basic security services by actually providing water, sewer, electricity, schools, a banking system, a legal system, writing a constitution, and doing all the myriad of things which must be accomplished before we leave Iraq as a fully-developed member of the world of nations.

No one - not Democrats and not the French - is opposed to this list. But, neither wants George W. Bush to get the credit for its successful completion.

In his speech last night, the President reminded us that we are still at war as we have been since shortly after 9:00 am on the morning of September 11, 2001.

In the two years since the attacks, we have: Freed two countries; undertaken the largest reorganization of the Federal government since the end of World War II by establishing the Department of Homeland Security; and our intelligence, armed forces, and investigative services have hunted down, captured or killed enough high-level terrorists that the Washington Post's Peter Finn and Susan Schmidt wrote yesterday:

"Osama bin Laden's leadership cadre has been isolated and weakened and is increasingly reliant on the violent actions of local radicals around the world to maintain its profile."

This week will be filled with reminders of the attacks. The President, last night, reminded us that we have a duty to look ahead, as well. And the future can be very bright, indeed.

Last week, the chairman of the Republican National Committee, Ed Gillespie, was pilloried by the Manchester Union Leader for, according to an editorial in the paper suggesting that the "days of Reaganesque Republican railings against the expansion of federal government are over."

This was not a direct quote by the paper's editorial board but, because Gillespie refused to stake out a position demanding the dismantling of the Department of Education, and refused to reject the concept of a prescription drug benefit, the paper accused Gillespie of joining the ranks of Ted Kennedy and Howard Dean.

Gillespie was Rep. Dick Armey's communications director in the U.S. House and, working closely with Newt Gingrich's team, helped to develop, market and, later, implement the Contract with America.

Following that success, RNC chairman Haley Barbour picked Gillespie to be communications director at the Republican National Committee to help promote the Gingrich/Dole agenda in the GOP-controlled House and Senate following the elections of 1994.

The Great Government Shutdown Fight between Gingrich and Clinton in 1995-96 was not over whether Federal Government spending would increase or decrease. It was over how much to SLOW THE RATE of increase in government spending.

President Bush wants a drug benefit. The House and Senate have each passed a version of a drug benefit.

How destructive would it have been to the President's overall agenda if the new chairman of the Republican National Committee had gone on record opposing the President of his own party?

Here's everything you need to know about Chairman Gillespie: When I've been under attack - which has happened now and again in my career - Ed Gillespie has never failed to call and say four words: "How can I help?"

That's the kind of guy Ed Gillespie is.

On the Secret Decoder Ring page today: Links to the text of the President's speech, a link to the Wash Post piece on Al Quaeda, another Ed Gillespie story, a pretty good Mullfoto, and the usual things.

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