Apples and Abizaid

Body language is consistently revealing, and no less where General Abizaid, an infamously ambitious and political general, is concerned.

I am prompted to comment on this after watching General John Abizaid, Command of US Central Command (which means he is the main man in charge of Iraq) perform in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee and subsequently on ‘Face The Nation.’

When giving testimony to the SASC, General Abizaid squirmed like a schoolboy caught stealing apples. In short, he looked unsure and as guilty as hell – and decidedly not in control of the situation in Iraq. In contrast, on ‘Face The Nation,’ he delivered a superficially polished and confident performance – providing you do not read the transcript with care.

Abizaid’s overall presentation revealed two things. Firstly, we are in serious trouble in Iraq to the extent that Abizaid is seriously worried about the progression of his career (he wants to be Chairman of the Joint chiefs of Staff). Secondly, that the supposedly hard edged, confrontational talk shows on Sunday are seen as an easy ride for the interviewee.

Interviewers like Bob Schieffer and Tim Russert, likeable and entertaining though they are, are not asking the hard questions.

We are spending over a billion a week in Iraq. This is not good.