Where Does The Buck Stop In Washington?

[mddem2004]

7/14/04
From the AP.......

.......Embarking on his first solo campaign as John Kerry's  running mate, Edwards kicked it off in Iowa, the state that salvaged his political aspirations with a strong second-place finish in the presidential caucuses seven months ago.

In his speech, Edwards called on Bush to step forward, as Blair had done in London, and take personal responsibility for the intelligence failures that resulted in war.

A report of a British official inquiry concluded that Iraq had no stockpiles of useable chemical or biological weapons before the war and that British intelligence relied in part on "seriously flawed" or "unreliable" sources.

"Tony Blair didn't run from the report, he didn't try to not acknowledge it," Edwards said. "Instead, what Tony Blair said was 'I take full responsibility for the mistakes ..."

"What we need in the White House is somebody who has the strength and courage and leadership to take full responsibility and be accountable — not only for what's good but for what's bad," Edwards said. "That's what John Kerry will be."

The senator said President John F. Kennedy had taken full responsibility for the failed CIA (news - web sites)-led invasion of Cuba's Bay of Pigs in the early 1960s — and Bush should do the same for intelligence failures on Iraq.

Also comparing Bush to Blair was Sen. Richard Durbin, D-Ill., who said, "in stark contrast to this administration, today we saw Prime Minister Tony Blair take responsibility ... We know where the buck stops in London. We don't know where the buck stops in Washington."

[The Dowager Mod]

Everyone knows bush is only responsible for the good things that happen not the bad.

[MODU]

I made a typo on one of my reports last week.  Since my funding comes from the government, is it Bush's fault?

"The buck stops here" is a great motto, but it isn't gospel.  Is it my fault and mine alone that I made the typo?  Is it my boss' fault since they hired me?  Is it my boss's boss fault since he pursued the contract?  Is it the government contracting officers fault for awarding the contract?   So on and so forth...

You get the point.  The buck stops where the person with the responsibility over the issue or the persons involved.  In the case of intelligence failures, the buck stops with persons responsible for reviewing the work of the analyst as well as the analysts themselves.  

Now, if Bush had misinterpreted the information given to him, then yes, that would be his fault.  However, the Senate (and for that fact the UK) has said that it was an intelligence flaw and not misrepresentation by the administration.  So, the buck stops somewhere in the intelligence department.

[mddem2004]

"The buck stops here" is a great motto, but it isn't gospel.

It sure as hell should be when ANY president sends our soldiers off into war. If there is ever an instance when "The Buck Stops Here" applies, its on this issue.

But of course instead of taking responsibility, as Blair has, our fearless "Smoke Em Out - Dead Or Alive" leader simply tries to shift the rational for the war to begin with.......  

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

Did Bush ever get back with an answer to the "written question" about his biggest mistake since 9/11?

[mddem2004]

Did Bush ever get back with an answer to the "written question" about his biggest mistake since 9/11?

Their still compiling that list and vetting it thru the CIA to check for its accuracy.......

[Smash255]

Did Bush ever get back with an answer to the "written question" about his biggest mistake since 9/11?

Their still compiling that list and vetting it thru the CIA to check for its accuracy.......

And then Ashcroft will label it classified