Word: undercutting
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...convert his enhanced stature into something solid? In the Afghan war, the limits of having no divisions - or more accurately, just a few cruise missiles and some special forces - are beginning to undercut the authority he projects, which in many ways is a confidence trick born of his own forceful personality and fast footwork. His war aims are admirably grand - reviving the Middle East peace process, tackling "grinding poverty and pandemic disease" in Africa, fortifying the U.N. and rebuilding Afghanistan - but delivering any of them depends on Bush, who is narrowly focused on getting al-Qaeda and defending the homeland...
...convert his enhanced stature into something solid? In the Afghan war, the limits of having no divisions?or more accurately, just a few cruise missiles and some special forces?are beginning to undercut the authority he projects, which in many ways is a confidence trick born of his own forceful personality and fast footwork. His war aims are admirably grand?reviving the Middle East peace process, tackling "grinding poverty and pandemic disease" in Africa, fortifying the U.N. and rebuilding Afghanistan?but delivering any of them depends on Bush, who is narrowly focused on getting al-Qaeda and defending the homeland...
...talks when many thought everything would unravel. He had already cleared a huge roadblock earlier on when he agreed to allow poor countries to waive the usual patent rules for life-saving medicines, facing down the powerful U.S. pharmaceutical industry. His initial pro-drug-company position was undercut when the U.S. considered breaking the Cipro patent during the recent anthrax scare...
...interests of combatting terrorism, we cannot defend such a cavalier sacrifice of the fundamental principles of our legal system and of the liberties which make America a country worth defending. Should any accused terrorists be tried in this manner, the gross lack of due process will severely undercut the validity of the verdicts in the eyes of the world—and, more importantly, in the eyes of the American people...
That sounded as if Rumsfeld was a little resentful of the way the brass had undercut his reforms. Sure enough, an aide later translated: Don't expect generals and admirals to spend a lifetime in the bureaucracy and then be able to tear it up and start over. "I thought about this the other day," Rumsfeld continued. "That's always been true, and I should have known it, but I never formulated it in my head." It is possible, of course, that by making the military responsible for cutting itself Rumsfeld is retreating to fight another day and with...