Political Spin Removal: Micromanagement of the War?
WASHINGTON (AP) 25Feb07-- Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Sunday it would be a mistake for Congress to micromanage the Iraq war and she encouraged lawmakers to support President Bush's troop increase.
I have had it up to here with this "micromanagement" slogan. I resent it because it's brilliant. People are parroting the phrase all over the media.
What is micromanagement, anyway? Micromanagement is tactical, overseeing and directing daily operations. Micro means extremely small, as in microscope. Not even the president micromanages the war. "Micromanagement" is a spurious characterization of the current strategic debate.
Does congress have ANY responsibility for management of the war? Congress has the constitutional responsibility to check the power of the executive. They do that by controlling the money. By attempting to block the president's escalation of the war, congress is expressing the will of the people, as it is supposed to do.
The mystery is how a transparently cynical slogan as "micromanagement of the war" gets accepted in the public's mind. Can't people think for themselves?