A week is a long time in politics

[robinturner]

From the New York Times, 10/4/03

Vice Pres Dick Cheney speaks publicly today for first time since start of war, and after widespread criticism that he had oversold ease with which coalition forces would prevail; addressing American Society of Newspaper Editors conference, Cheney tries not to sound boastful, while praising Defense Sec Donald Rumsfeld and top military commanders as fall of Baghdad appears imminent; disdains idea of giving United Nations, France, Germany and Russia pivotal role in rebuilding Iraq; role as key adviser to Pres Bush discussed; photo (M) After weeks of criticism that he had underestimated the difficulty of toppling Saddam Hussein and overpromised in suggesting that American troops would be greeted in Iraq as liberators, Vice President Dick Cheney spoke publicly today for the first time since the start of the war, and in his understated way said: I told you so.

The conclusion of the war ''will mark one of the most extraordinary military campaigns ever conducted,'' Mr. Cheney told the American Society of Newspaper Editors conference in New Orleans this morning, while television screens were showing jubilant Iraqis pulling down statues of Mr. Hussein in Baghdad less than three weeks after the start of the American-led offensive.

Dick Cheney "understated"? "Jubilant Iraqis"? Words fail me.