On Keeping Current

A colleague, strolling through the Bush Diplomatic Hall of Glory at the State Department -- that series of snappy large photographs begun by this administration to tout our leader's world leadership -- says the photos include a large, beautiful one of President Bush and the Iraqi prime minister.

"The prime minister is a great Iraqi patriot, he's a friend of liberty, he's a strong partner for peace and freedom," Bush said at their meeting, praising him for "brave leadership" and being a "bold man" and a "frank, open fella." Bush told him he did a "good job" at their news conference.

But wait a minute! That was last June in the White House with former prime minister Ibrahim al-Jafari , a complete loser, as it turns out. Almost as bad as the first guy, Ayad Allawi . Jafari was hanging on to office like Al Gore, hoping for a miracle, until Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice went to Baghdad and told him to take a hike.

Where's the photograph in Baghdad with the new guy, Nouri al-Maliki ? Bush said on his quick visit he "saw firsthand the strength of his character and his deep determination to succeed." Better still, Maliki's "got a plan to succeed," which is always a good thing, and Bush said he was "impressed" by him.

So let's get that new picture up there real quick, okay?

Check, Check, Click. Check, Check, Check, Click.

How many times, oh, Lord, must we warn people to check once, twice, even thrice, before clicking the "send" button?

Seems Traci Scott , who works in the Pentagon's legislative affairs office, sent an e-mail Wednesday to a group of Hill folks with an attachment titled "Iraq Floor Debate Prep Book." The 74-page attachment, just in time for the House floor debate yesterday, is full of great facts and fine political arguments.

Section 3, for example, "Victory in Iraq," summarizes Saddam Hussein 's "support for terrorist groups" and "his defiance of the world community" and how he "wanted WMD." Section 4 is the "Rapid Response" part.

Though coming from the Pentagon, the prep book reads like a White House playbook -- which, a Pentagon spokesman said, it is. "It's an NSC [National Security Council] document which we passed along," he said. It rebuts all those arguments from the "cut and run" crowd about prewar intelligence manipulation, or how the war in Iraq has made the world more dangerous for Americans.

Problem is that the e-mail was sent to some of those cutters and runners.

Next thing you know, there's a second e-mail from Scott.

"The sender would like to recall the message, 'Prep Book.' "