Every blogger has an opinion. I'm glad the president is taking some time to think about strategy and objectives in the middle east. I think one of the reasons the president chose Joe Biden as his running mate is that he would give his opinion, and his reasons for his opinion. I also think President Obama will consider the opinions of the generals, the scholars that have spent a lifetime studying the middle eastern cultures, and many other people whose experience he would find valuable in making his decisions. When I was in management I didn't just want a bunch of "yes-men" around me, I wanted to be able to pick their brains on many occasions and get their honest opinions.
Bush surounded himself with "yes men" & he easily got everything he wanted!
I'm old enough to remember that Arianna was a conservative republican at one time. I for one am glad that Biden is VP and offering a different opinion. It's up to Obama to make the final decision.
Biden shouldn't resign just because he doesn't get his way about Afghanistan - how immature would that be? He can take a stand and gracefully accept whatever the President decides to do about it. There is so much more to the job of VP than giving advice on Afganistan that him resigning doesn't even make sense.
Our policy re Afghanistan fortunately is being reviewed. BW makes a very good point that Bush surrounded himself with "yes men" so he got what he wanted. Those who disagreed with him were soon out, from Colin Powell to most of his cabinet. The military advisers are giving him differing opinions about our involvement there. My best guess is that he is listening to all and will make his decision once he feels he has enough information.
We do need to be clear about our objectives there and realistic about what can be accomplished and what cannot.
Biden has always been frank and outspoken and I'm sure before choosing as his running mate Obama knew who he was getting and valued him and his opinions. It's more assuring to know we have a president who listens to his advisoes and considers what they say rather than a totalitarian, stubborn man intent on forging ahead heedless to the input of his advisers --and the rest of the world, too, as our last Chief Executive did.
I am hoping Obama listens and seeks advice from historians as well as his generals in regards to
Afghanistan.
This situation is troublesome and tricky indeed.
Afghanistan is the only place we should be, if the job of getting rid of the terrorists isn't completed before leaving then it would probable go back under terrorists control and possibly another attack on the U.S..
