The lying liars are lying again. And the hawks are following. Again.

[T]he recent events in Iraq have brought some of those players back into the limelight as media outlets inexplicably look to them for “expert” commentary. (If the story is about how one deals with the burden of being so devastatingly wrong, then I suppose it might make sense.) Wolfowitz has been one of the more ubiquitous of these ignominious experts, in the last few days appearing on several programs to talk about what the U.S. should be doing in Iraq. But considering the history of lies with which he is so closely affiliated, this comment was of particular note:

Wolfowitz argued on both programs that the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria and other militants in Iraq should be referred to as Al Qaeda-linked groups, saying that the use of terms like “ISIS” and “Sunni and Shia” doesn’t appropriately signify the urgency of the situation for the American people.

You’ll note that he doesn’t acknowledge that the designations ISIS and “Sunni and Shia” are correct terms. He is giving propaganda advice: if you want to convey the urgency of the situation you must link this current activity to al-Qaida. It’s déjà vu all over again.

And just as it was in 2003, when the Bush administration used this same “sense of urgency” to rush the nation into an unnecessary war, Paul Wolfowitz is going on television and telling people they should do it again. And once again, it’s a lie.

Enough force to remind all parties that we can, from the air, see and retaliate against not only Al Qaeda members, whom our drones track for months, but also any individuals guilty of mass atrocities and crimes against humanity. Enough force to compel governments and rebels alike to the negotiating table. And enough force to create a breathing space in which decent leaders can begin to consolidate power.