Originally Posted By: Todd
Originally Posted By: AuntyM

If Obama panders to his base and does NOT increase troop levels along the lines recommended by his generals, he's as bad a CinC as Bush, who refused to listen to Condi and Colin and let Cheney and Rumfeld try to do it on the cheap with not near enough troops.


I don't think the General's recommendations mean much until we have got through the political process of deciding what the goal is, first. Once we decide on the goal, and the experts then advise Obama what is necessary to achieve the goal, then I think it will behoove him to choose amongst that advice and provide what is needed to achieve that goal.

Just sending the troops (tactical elements) in with no clear political or strategic elements is what BushCorp did, and we all see where that got us.

I think it was a mistake to have the General say anything at all when he did, because it's not his job to come up with goals, it's his job to come up with the tactics to achieve goals. At the time he was spouting off troop levels no clear goals had been made yet, so his numbers came with no meaningful context.

Fish on...

Todd

I'm glad the Prez is weighing his options, but it's now close to three months after he was asked for additional troops..Like my Father has always told me..." Fish or cut bait".
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He who joyfully marches in rank and file has already earned my contempt. He has been given a large brain by mistake, since for him the spinal cord would suffice.

- Albert Einstein.