An experiment

If you dropped a feather and Harold Ford Jr. Galileo-style from the Leaning Tower of Pisa, which would land first? Or as Aristotle would say, which is more lightweight?

When it comes to the greatest foreign policy issue of the day, Congressman Ford is obtuse. He extended his streak of ignorant and counterproductive remarks about the War in Iraq Friday in Knoxville.

In visiting Iraq, Ford said Bush has overstated the progress of the military forces. "Restoration of basic services, such as electricity and water, are slow moving," he said.

Here Ford manages to both offend the people working on basic services and be factually incorrect at the same time.

I admit it's difficult to accomplish as much as you would like when the temperature is hovering around 115 degrees (as it was today), but Ford's habit of talking down what Tennesseans are accomplishing here is a little grating. And yes, I know it gets pretty hot at the Ford compound in Miami, but it's a little different when you are wearing IBA. BTW, here's a picture of Tennesseans providing a source of potable water to a village that never had it.

You see, much of what we do is not "restoring" - we are creating and helping to create systems Saddam never built. But since Ford doesn't know jack about what Tennesseans are doing over here he uses the wrong word.

It doesn't matter if you are Democratic or a Republican, we all know that "we are the most misunderstood, disliked and disrespected country now," he said.

Misunderstood, disliked and disrespected by whom? Cuba and North Korea? Those nations jail, torture and kill citizens who want free speech. France, China and Russia? Saddam paid them handsomely to oppose the war. As Glenn Reynolds recently asked, "were there any countries that opposed the war without being bribed?" Specifics may not count in an inherited Shelby County congressional district but they will in a statewide US Senate race.

Maybe Ford's preferred role for America is groveling at the feet of dictators like an insecure teen hoping to be liked, but I don't think that's a vision most Tennesseans will embrace.

All points, he said, must be examined, and then a "different strategy - a good idea" must be brought forth to see a change in Iraq.

And? That's all. Congressman Ford says we need a "different strategy - a good idea" but doesn't offer one. That's very similar to the strategy used by John "Trust Me, I have a secret plan for Iraq" Kerry in 2004.

If Ford continues down this path on an issue this important, here's where I think his dream of being a US Senator will end:

No Korans were harmed in the taking of this picture.