How Bush Uses His Generals

Medal of Freedom

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In December 2004, Bush awarded Franks the Medal of Freedom-- alongside two other supposed heroes of the war: Former CIA director George Tenet and former U.S. proconsul in Iraq, Paul Bremer.

"The General likes to say that 'no plan ever survived the first contact with the enemy,' " Bush said. "But in Iraq, Tommy Franks' plan did," Bush said. "A force half the size of the force that won the Gulf War defeated Saddam Hussein's regime and reached Baghdad in less than a month, the fastest, longest armored advance in the history of America warfare.

"Today the people of Iraq and Afghanistan are building a secure and permanent democratic future."

Feeling the Heat

Meanwhile, the Iraqi parliament is apparently taking August off.

From Friday's briefing with press secretary Tony Snow:

"Q Is the Iraqi government and the Iraqi parliament taking the month of August off?

"MR. SNOW: Probably, yes. Just not --

"Q They're taking the entire month of August off, before the September deadline?

"MR. SNOW: It looks like they may, yes. Just like the U.S. Congress is.

"Q Have you tried to talk them out of that?

"MR. SNOW: You know, it's 130 degrees in Baghdad in August, I'll pass on your recommendation.

"Q Well, Tony, Tony, I'm sorry, that's -- you know -- I mean, there are a lot of things that happen by September and it's 130 degrees for the U.S. military also on the ground --

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