NATIONAL SECURITY JOHN
In a crude sense, military engagements all have "victory" as their objective. But, in more defined terms, missions have well expressed objectives that are time-bound and resource constrained.
When those objectives cannot be met, then all the whistling for "victory" isn't going to change the basic configuration.
McCain's notion that we must be in Iraq until the last al-qa'ida is killed or captured is an absurd mission objective. (As if there were a little green light that was going to pop-up and say, "There are no al-qa'ida left in the country. Feel free to move about the cabin.").
If he wanted to straight-talk it, to really level, he'd say that we need to hand-hold the Iraqis, until they can occupy Iraq. In particular, until their army is available and politicians are accountable.
Of course, that amount of truth won't keep getting you $150 billion more each year from the next generation(s) ...
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
"Victory" Is Not a Mission Statement
