politics

More on Iraq, and Moving Back to K Street

Blogospheric reactions to theNew York Times' news on Iraq and the Washington Post's K Street coverage.
August 17, 2006

There is another big story in the New York Times this morning that has sent keyboards a-clattering. This time, the story reveals that in July, the number of roadside bombs planted in Iraq rose “to the highest monthly total of the war, offering more evidence that the anti-American insurgency has continued to strengthen despite the killing of the terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi.”

In response to the worsening insurgency and the continuing slaughter of Iraqi civilians, Matt Yglesias digs up some relevant quotes from Bush administration officials (and Joe Lieberman!) telling us that the violence is indeed, in its “last throes.”

The Next Hurrah found the Times piece lacking in some relevant specifics, however, and wants some questions answered: “Sistani, al-Sadr, and Maliki all condemned Israel’s US-supported attack on Lebanon. The attack provided a clear reason for the majority Shiite community–which up till now has been relatively peaceful –to turn against the US. Did that happen? Have we seen any increase of Shiite-on-US violence in the last month? What is the breakdown between Shiite and Sunni-led violence in these numbers? I honestly don’t know the answer, but that seems to be the question to ask, if you want to know about the long term prospects for our men and women to be able to impose peace on Iraq.”

Count Glen Greenwald among those satisfied that the American media has begun to turn its attention back to Iraq after the month-long distraction of the war in Lebanon. “Now that ‘our war’ in Lebanon has come to an end … the national media is starting to remember that we already have an ongoing war in a country called Iraq, and what is happening there is beyond tragic,” he writes.

Back inside the Beltway, the Washington Post‘s Jeffrey Birnbaum reports today that many Washington lobbying firms — slaves to whoever controls Congress — are starting to reach out to Democrats, whom they’ve shunned for the past six years. And boy, is the liberal blogosphere excited. (We would be remiss here not to link to the Washington Monthly‘s excellent examination of the “K Street Project” from back in 2003.)

Obsidian Wings is feeling hopeful, writing, “The rumblings can be heard on K Street. Steely-eyed men who put their money on the line are shifting where that money goes. Yes, Democrats are welcome again on K Street, a very good sign businesses think Congress’s power base will be shifting in November. And if the Democrats are in power, or even close to it, lobbyists know that they’re going to have to grease those skids in order to make sure they get the legislation they want through Congress. It is, after all, the American way.” Kevin Drum is also starting to feel a little giddy: “When pollsters predict a Democratic win this November, I’m hopeful but cautious. But when the lobbyists start betting serious money on the proposition, maybe it’s time to start believing.”

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Paul McLeary is a former CJR staff writer. Since 2008, he has covered the Pentagon for Foreign Policy, Defense News, Breaking Defense, and other outlets. He is currently a defense reporter for Politico.