Comments on: The reviews are getting worse

By: hiraethin

hiraethin — Mon, 28 Aug 2006 22:40:13 +0000

While stipulating that it is possible that the plan needs improvement or, potentially, a new plan, and while your military maxim is pertinent, the key maxim in counter-insurgency operations is “The great thing is not to lose your nerve.” In short, that insurgents without a political or geographic sanctuary cannot win militarily, but can only win by imposing defeat upon the mind of their opponent.

It is possible, therefore, that while the plan may feel uncomfortable – that is, that many people may feel that we’re not winning clearly enough or fast enough – that it may still be the best plan for actually attaining victory.

Finally, no counter-insurgency campaign is quick, clean, or easy. That’s what is meant by “long, hard, and difficult”. That means that maybe, maybe, given the nature of human endeavours, the campaign might have gone much worse, but might never have gone much better, regardless who was running it in an ideal world. And that maybe, maybe, things might not be going swimmingly, but the campaign may not be doomed.

By: Charlie

Charlie — Wed, 23 Aug 2006 14:42:57 +0000

I’m just looking forward to 2008 and the hope that we can get a new direction in our foreign policy and the war on terror (perhaps one that works even).

By: Bill Costley

Bill Costley — Tue, 22 Aug 2006 16:36:42 +0000

I agree; the ‘new’ dampish Lieberman is merely a artifact of being run against by Lamont, sure to quickly dry up if he wins.

By: ascap_scab

ascap_scab — Mon, 21 Aug 2006 22:34:03 +0000

Does anyone think for a moment that Joe Lieberman would ever criticize Don Rumsfeld if not for the fact that Lieberman is being challenged by Ned Lamont??

It didn’t take three years to change Lieberman’s mind on Iraq, it took a Ned Lamont to change his “publically stated position.” If Lieberman wins back his seat in November, this statement on the SecDef will go down the memory hole.