Ever since the march toward war in Iraq began, 9/11 has always been the administration’s hole card. They pull it out every time they get in trouble. It makes sense politically given that Bush’s approval rating was boosted to ridiculous levels by 9/11, and has been rapidly declining ever since. But it’s offensive given that that there is no evidence of any link between Iraq and 9/11.

That’s why I’m not surprised to see that the administration, with its low approval ratings and unpopular war, is going to make a big deal about 9/11 on the fourth anniversary of the attacks:

The Pentagon will hold a massive march and country music concert to mark the fourth anniversary of 9/11, Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said in an unusual announcement tucked into an Iraq war briefing yesterday.

“This year the Department of Defense will initiate an America Supports You Freedom Walk,” Rumsfeld said, adding that the march would remind people of “the sacrifices of this generation and of each previous generation.”

…Word of the event startled some observers. “I’ve never heard of such a thing,” said John Pike, who has been a defense analyst in Washington for 25 years and runs GlobalSecurity.org.

The news also reignited debate and anger over linking Sept. 11 with the war in Iraq.

“That piece of it is disturbing since we all know now there was no connection,” said Paul Rieckhoff, an Iraq veteran who heads Operation Truth, an anti-administration military booster.

Rieckhoff suggested the event was an ill-conceived publicity stunt. “I think it’s clear that their public opinion polls are in the toilet,” he said.

Rumsfeld’s walk had some relatives of 9/11 victims fuming.

“How about telling Mr. Rumsfeld to leave the memories of Sept. 11 victims to the families?” said Monica Gabrielle, who lost her husband in the attacks.

What will the Bush administration do when 9/11 stops bailing them out? For better or worse, the public is turning against this administration and the war in Iraq, and a “Freedom Walk” isn’t going to change that.