DOES THE B IN OBAMA’S PLAN B FOR AFGHANISTAN STAND FOR BUSH?

"Fresh from having taken down the "Pakistan First" option mooted by Joe Biden for dealing (or rather not dealing) with Afghanistan, the Washington Post editorial board turns its attention to the approach recently mooted by President Obama himself - maintaining current troop levels and building up the Afghan army. The Post notes that this approach, while sparing Obama from the wrath of his political base, would perpetuate the losing approach employed by the Bush administration in recent years while mirroring the pre-surge approach that "brought Iraq to the brink of catastrophe."

It will be quite something if Obama’s "Plan B" for Afghanistan turns out to be more of the Bush policy he regularly castigated. It’s fine to criticize that policy, but only if you’re prepared to change it. Thus, the Post shows intellectual honesty - it blames the Bush administration for leaving Obama with the current mess, while supporting what may well be a more effective approach to fighting a war it has consistently supported.

The same cannot be said for liberals like E.J. Dionne who accept the importance of succeeding in Afghanistan, excoriate Bush for leaving a mess, but balk when it comes to adopting a more aggressive approach. As the Post notes, to the extent that Bush left a mess, he did so because he kept "sending just enough reinforcement s each year to match the growing threat of the Taliban but never enough to turn the situation around." Those who are unwilling now to raise troop levels exponentially should have the decency to stop carping about Bush’s refusal to do so.

E.J. Dionne’s position amounts to this: (1) only Republicans have the stomach for fighting wars to win; (2) it was therefore up to them to win in Afghanistan; (3) instead they focused on Iraq and left Afghanistan in poor shape, (4) don’t ask us to take political risks in Afghanistan to further America’s security interests, that’s the Republicans’ job.

That’s a deplorable posture for anyone to assume; it would be a criminal one for our president to adopt.

http://www.powerlineblog.com/

That was perfect, Lee!

Oh, starry nite, Obama didn’t save this country from an economic meltdown….he enhanced it!   None of the bailouts have worked not even for the auto industry.   Nothing Obama has done has helped our economy.   He has pushed us further and further into unsustainable debt and yet you cheer him on!   Breathtaking.   What Obama is responsible for under his watch is $1.4 trillion deficit compliments of failed attempts to stimulate our country.    He made a HUGE mistake up front by not cutting taxes to our small businesses and provide very low interest loans so that we could keep the jobs and create more.   That has to be the dumbest oversight ever made during a recession.   Now we get read for "Son of Stim Two, three maybe four" and still….no jobs.    He is putting a bandaid on these issues and that never works.   If we are getting back on track I’ve missed something.   Last time I looked our deficit is three times higher than it was last year, the healthcare bill costs will escalate each year just like England and France….bad ju ju in those two countries due to healthcare costs!

We’ll be getting back on track in 2010 and 2012 when the republicans can take back the country and stimulate her.

Good post , Starry, and the reminder of the legacy of Phil and Wendy.  Yes, WH art is on loan and reflects this administration’s belief about diversity.  Ditto to other valuable pieces of art and momentos from around the world.   The Obamas also play host to diverse musical groups  each month at the White House. 

I also believe we are getting back on track, and some good can be found if one cares to dig through the rubble.  Many items are downright cheap right now. Cars, houses, and fixed rate mortgages.  Refinance while rates are still low.  People are now understanding how credit card companies make many millions on over drafts alone that are usually built into their agreements.  Buy one latte at Starbucks and go over with your debit card, and there is a $ 34 fee.  People are more savvy now and watching the bottom line. 

We just survived a near collapse, and people are looking at how and where they have been spending money.  Suddenly being a cheap skate who counts his change is cool again.  Things are not rosy, but there are some glimmers of hope.  Of course, we will not see them in the weekly Peek column.

Starry,

…right wing base who write bucolic blogs as if they were experts on foreign policy and global economics.  

Are you saying those of us with conservative points of view are country bumpkins?