Generally Speaking, Know Where You're Going

by bert

They're tricky. They know it. They believe that to win at spin you define the terms right out of the chute.

Take Charles Krauthammer's attempt to defend the Iraq War. Chuck comes at you with a big-word-laden lede that tackles what, therefore, has to be the big issue of the day:

By the day, the debate at home about Iraq becomes increasingly disconnected from the realities of the war on the ground. The Democrats in Congress are so consumed with negotiating among their factions the most clever linguistic device to legislatively ensure the failure of the administration's current military strategy -- while not appearing to do so -- that they speak almost not at all about the first visible results of that strategy.

Yea, you said it Chuck, those darn Defeatocrats, sheesh, . . . but, uh, wait up. Did you mention strategy? That reminds me of what a retired Marine general said about our war leaders' strategy just the other day:

"The very fundamental issue is, they don't know where the hell they're going," said retired Marine Gen. John J. "Jack" Sheehan, a former top NATO commander who was among those rejecting the job. Sheehan said he believes that Vice President Cheney and his hawkish allies remain more powerful within the administration than pragmatists looking for a way out of Iraq. "So rather than go over there, develop an ulcer and eventually leave, I said, 'No, thanks,' " he said.

Gen. Sheehan was among three retired officers who declined a White House offer to accept a new top military position that would oversee the wars in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Gen. Sheehan told them to take this job and shove it not because he does not want victory. Sorry Charlie, but the reality is we can't tell him what victory is supposed to look like.