Yes, I will engage in a little ad hominem, only to give context to the author's surrounding beliefs:

Marc A. Thiessen served as a speechwriter for United States President George W. Bush (2004-2009) and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld (2001-2004)

The argument is very well laid out and I'm not qualified to mount a case against his claims; however, it does have a slight political tinge to it.