The Nation: President Rudy's War Council

President Rudy's War Council
Peter C. Baker



GOP presidential hopeful Rudy Giuliani recently named Norman Podhoretz, godfather of neoconservatism and former editor of Commentary magazine, and Daniel Pipes, director of the neoconservative Middle East Forum, to his foreign policy team. The following scene imagines a conversation between Podhoretz and Pipes at Giuliani's victory party. Each line of dialogue is a real quote from either Podhoretz or Pipes.

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(A crowded room full of Giuliani campaign staffers, balloons and confetti as Rudy is anointed the GOP presidential nominee. Podhoretz and Pipes sit in a corner, drinks in hand, talking eagerly above the din of music and celebration.)

PODHORETZ: We are only in the very early stages of what promises to be a very long war--

PIPES: A profound war and long-term war, in which Afghanistan and Iraq are sideshows.

PODHORETZ: Iraq is only the second front to have been opened in that war: the second scene, so to speak, of the first act of a five-act play.

PIPES: I already predicted failure for an American-led military occupation of Iraq in February 1991.... But President George W. Bush is right to insist on keeping troops in Iraq.

PODHORETZ: I think Iraq has gone not badly but well, is not a disaster or a crime or a delusion, but what's more is a noble, necessary effort.

PIPES (apologetic): Oh, it was a success.... That six-week victory remains a glory of American foreign policy.... The ingratitude of the Iraqis. .....(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.thenation.com/doc/20071210/baker