What Diane Didn't Say: No, Nancy, It's Not 'the President's War' — It's America's War

Diane Sawyer didn't go totally Katie Couric on Nancy Pelosi in her exclusive interview aired on GMA this morning. The ABC host stopped just short of any "you go, girls." But neither did Sawyer call Pelosi when, twice, the new Speaker washed her hands of responsibility for the most pressing issue of the day.

When Sawyer asked if the Dems would turn off funding for the surge, Pelosi responded:

"Democrats will never cut off funding for our troops when they are in harm's way. But we will hold the president accountable; he has to answer for his war. He has dug a hole so deep he can't even see the light on this; it's a tragedy, it's a historic blunder."

Pelosi repeated the line later: "It's the president's war, and he's the one without a plan."

No, Nancy. It's not "the president's war." Like it or not, it's America's war. If it indeed it is the "tragedy" you claim it to be, leaving it in the president's lap is the most flagrant abdication of responsibilty, the most cynical political ploy, imaginable.

Sawyer, sadly, never called her on it.

Bonus Coverage -- Pelosi's Clinton-at-the-funeral moment? Speaking of cynical, readers will remember the incident in which Bill Clinton, joshing with friends at a funeral, suddenly realized the cameras were on him and in a heartbeat turned on an appropriately mournful mien. Have a look at this clip of Pelosi's facial reaction to Sawyer's question about our fallen heroes, and see if you don't get a similar vibe.

Mark was in Iraq in November. Contact him at mark@gunhill.net