Schwartzkopf - Earlier this week,

Schwartzkopf - Earlier this week, the left launched itself into a paroxysm of glee - Retired Army General Norman Schwartzkopf, made a comment that could be described as opposing invading Iraq.

What a difference a day makes:

(CNSNews.com) - General Norman Schwarzkopf made headlines on Tuesday when he told The Washington Post he "would like to have better information" before endorsing a U.S.-led war against Iraq. War skeptics seized on his remarks to paint any U.S. action as ill-advised.

But on Wednesday, Gen.Schwarzkopf told NBC's Today show he thought President Bush's State of the Union speech was "very compelling," and he said he looks forward to hearing the declassified information that Secretary of State Colin Powell will share with the world next week.

"Saddam's got to go," Schwarzkopf said Wednesday morning. "He's a monster in every single way you can think of and with the linkage to the terrorists, it's scary what in fact could be done."

I have to admit, I was perplexed by Schwartzkopf's stance on the war. I think a friend of mine, Brian Jones in Atlanta, has it figured out, though. This is from an email from a list-server on which we're both members:

...I smell rope-a-dope. As soon as everybody falls behind Stormin' Norman (like the elder geopolitical statesman he's become now that he's spouting something they want to hear), saying, "Yeah, where's the nukes, we can't go without nukes," we'll get some new intelligence on nukes. Say, next week or so.

I'd thought this; Bush will let the opposition rant itself blue about "no evidence", and commit itself to attacking an evidence-less invasion; then, Bush'll release evidence he's had for quite some time, cutting the knees out of under the opposition.

As the tanks begin to roll.

Posted by Mitch at January 31, 2003 12:32 PM