Monday, March 10, 2008

A Solemn Read.

Our workday commute now includes the audio adaptation of Tom Ricks' "Fiasco: The American Military Adventure in Iraq". Ricks attempts a comprehensive indictment of the Bush administration, from deliberate deception in the case for war to the lack of planning of "Phase Four", establishing a functional Post-Saddam Iraq. On the first point, Ricks is not persuasive, but on the latter he successfully documents what must be considered an A-1 SNAFU by the Rumsfeld Pentagon. John McCain frequently mentions this book while on the stump, and it supports his view that Petraeus' approach in Iraq is a necessary component of success. Necessary, but not sufficient, for ultimately it is the emerging political leadership in Iraq that will win the peace or lose it to a power darker than Saddam. And the Democrats input on this critical issue is as valuable as a one-armed cymbals player.

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