Tuesday, September 11, 2007
'Out they go!'
Two initial reactions to Gen. Petraeus' testimony yesterday: admiration and disappointment. Admiration because he seems to be honorably telling it the way he sees it, bucking conventional wisdom that he might cave and advocate major troop cuts by next April. Disappointment because he didn't come to the conclusion on his own that we can afford major troop cuts by next April. Think about it: By next July, we'll be right back to where we were in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and pre-surge early 2007. Is this progress? ... George Will doesn't think so. And he's right. ... Not that I advocate pulling the plug and ignoring all of Patraeus' wishes. But I truly hope Congress starts asking very tough military questions about the issues raised in George Packer's article 'Planning for Defeat.' Knowing the Bush administration, I doubt it has any back-up plans. Someone else had better formulate them -- and very soon. ...
Quick note: Congrats to Ike Skelton for ordering, 'Out they go!' when protesters tried to disrupt yesterday's hearing. I wanted to hear testimony, not the chants of pre-programmed fools trying to get their Protest Merit Badges. To me, there's no fundamental difference between the ugliness of the left's 'generals lie, children die' slogan and the right's 'treason' assertions. ...
Two initial reactions to Gen. Petraeus' testimony yesterday: admiration and disappointment. Admiration because he seems to be honorably telling it the way he sees it, bucking conventional wisdom that he might cave and advocate major troop cuts by next April. Disappointment because he didn't come to the conclusion on his own that we can afford major troop cuts by next April. Think about it: By next July, we'll be right back to where we were in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and pre-surge early 2007. Is this progress? ... George Will doesn't think so. And he's right. ... Not that I advocate pulling the plug and ignoring all of Patraeus' wishes. But I truly hope Congress starts asking very tough military questions about the issues raised in George Packer's article 'Planning for Defeat.' Knowing the Bush administration, I doubt it has any back-up plans. Someone else had better formulate them -- and very soon. ...
Quick note: Congrats to Ike Skelton for ordering, 'Out they go!' when protesters tried to disrupt yesterday's hearing. I wanted to hear testimony, not the chants of pre-programmed fools trying to get their Protest Merit Badges. To me, there's no fundamental difference between the ugliness of the left's 'generals lie, children die' slogan and the right's 'treason' assertions. ...
