Rummy and accountability.

A thoughtful piece by Juan Cole on why Rumsfeld should resign: the accountability of public officials to the public. Without accountability of public officials - especially those who aren't subject to the electoral process - the government acts more and more like those Middle Eastern countries that have elections but aren't really democracies.

"You really wonder whether the Bush plan to Americanize the Middle East isn't being turned on its head. We now have an unaccountable government not elected in accordance with the will of the majority of Americans, which victimizes critics like Joe Wilson and engages in torture. Bush and Co. are emulating the worst aspects of the military governments of Egypt and Yemen."