Dick Cheney, Hard-Liner In Chief

George W. Bush gave yet another speech last week defending his Administration's war in Iraq. Actually, it was the same old speech--the same Western aw-shucks-isms ("We're on the hunt"), the same complexities avoided. The President is beginning to sound pretty defensive--with good reason: he's been playing defense since July. As he said last week, "Wars are won on the offensive." So are second terms.

The President's rut reflects a gathering dysfunction in his Administration. The White House seems paralyzed, unable to stanch the political, diplomatic and actual bleeding over Iraq. There are turf wars everywhere. The CIA is at war with...

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