I am completely baffled. The confusion - this baffling - is ongoing and seemingly perpetual, even though every day there is something new that inspires it. I just don't understand what harm being honest is going to do. It can't possibly have anything to do with "credibility" - since the dishonesty is so transparent that credibility has already been sacrificed. It just doesn't make any sense!

" U.S. Trade Representative Robert Zoellick said on Thursday that the decision to end steel tariffs was based on studies showing the tariffs were no longer needed rather than out of fear of retaliation. "

Brad DeLong notes, " even a month ago nobody in the administration thought that the steel tariffs had 'accomplished their goal' ".