I know I've been away
But I've been busy -- my wife had a baby. Needless to say, I haven't had much time on my hands.
However, with the latest Republican debate (this one in New Hampshire) behind us, I read a devastating critique of the Republican candidates' plans (well, "plans" is a rather loose description) for the Iraq War. Joe Klein, in his blog, pointed out that none of the candidates appear to be on planet Earth with the rest of us. He doesn't think much of most of the Democrats' plans, although I know, from previous columns of his, that he thinks Hillary gives a reasonable answer to the Iraq question, in large part due to her service on the Senate Armed Services Committee. Nonetheless, he thinks the Republicans are even more detached from reality. Interesting column by him. Read it.
1 comment:
Missed you.
The whole lot of them are doing well to reflect a large constituency of Americans who have no idea what they want or how to get it.
Klein's statement, that "aspects of the surge seem to be working, but the larger situation in Iraq--the slide toward all-out civil war and civic chaos--continues unchecked," is open to debate. I wonder if he thinks differently after hearing Petraeus' report.
The sad truth is that we bought (or rather, were sold) the neoconservative experiment in forced progress in the region, and to back out now would leave us worse off than before. Starting from where we are now, we have to stay in until the job is done. This is the elephant in the Democratic room... what they won't mention when they talk of "redeployment"... that is, what will happen if we do? They won't discuss that, because they would have to admit that it would be a catastrophe.
Republican's may sound just as idiotic, but they are at least have our commitment in mind, if not a reasonable expectation of outcome.
My hope is that Bush can get enough done in the next year-and-a-half, while Congress dithers and candidates muddle the water, to make finishing the job the obvious choice to his successor. In this mean time, I also hope the uncertainty of what they'll get next motivates the Iraqis and other regional players to get things accomplished, just in case we get someone in office who'll wave the white flag, and withdraw regardless of the consequences.
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