Podhoretz's false choice: dissent or war (6/6)

By Ben Fritz

Does New York Post columnist John Podhoretz have powers of memory far beyond those of his colleagues in the media? He seems to think so, as indicated in his latest column, where he wrote, "Doesn't anybody around here remember that there's a war on?" (his emphasis)

The issue, though, is not one of memory. It's yet another example of spin--in this case, Podhoretz attempting to frame any and all questioning of the government's performance as a "finger-pointing blame game" and, thus, illegitimate despite continuing revelations that the CIA and FBI knew more than they initially admitted. Sadly, such attempts to quash reasonable dissent are becoming a pattern for Podhoretz.

While some attacks on the Bush administration have gone over the line, most of the debate has consisted of generally reasonable questions from members of both parties about the government's failure to prevent the Sept. 11 attacks and calls for Congressional investigations. Podhoretz frames the entire debate, however, as a crude either-or proposition: we're either fighting ourselves or we're fighting the terrorists.

"The CIA did not attack the United States," he writes. "Nor did the FBI or [Transportation Secretary] Norm Mineta. This nation was attacked by al Qaeda and remains threatened by that group and by militant Islam."

It's no surprise that Podhoretz doesn't provide a single example of anyone comparing the performance of the CIA, FBI or Mineta to the attack by Al Qaeda, because no mainstream critics have done so. It's a gross misinterpretation of the nature of most criticism of the administration.

It is, however, masterful spin. By describing all questioning of the government's performance as equivalent to accusations of attacks, and then reminding readers that it was the terrorist group al Qaeda that attacked our nation, he sets up a choice with which few would disagree. Who, after all, wants to criticize the CIA when the real enemy is al Qaeda?

Podhoretz would do well to remember, however, that questioning the performance of our government is not an accusation of treason. It's part of the process of open debate that is central to American democracy. Indeed, by debating the actions of our leaders we strengthen government's performance.

Astute readers may recognize that Podhoretz used similar tactics following the first revelations that the Bush administration had general warnings of a hijacking threat prior to September 11. As I noted at the time, he wrote that Democrats are so desperate to attack Bush that they are "shifting the blame away from Osama bin Laden and militant Islam for the attacks of Sept. 11."

Just because critics question the government's performance doesn't mean they have forgotten, or care any less, about last September's attacks or the ongoing war against terrorism. The only person with a memory problem seems to be Podhoretz, who has forgotten that dissent and patriotism are not mutually exclusive in a democracy.

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6/6/2002 07:21:31 PM EST |

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