Novak: Colin Powell And Congressional Republicans Oppose Troop Surge
Columnist Robert Novak reports of widespread opposition in top GOP circles to President George Bush’s impending announcement of a troop “surge” — a word used with the same intent as when the words “pre-owned cars” are used instead of “used cars.”
Former Secretary of State Colin Powell, who has gone public with criticism of President Bush’s Iraq policy, is caustic in private about the proposed ”surge” of 30,000 additional U.S. troops.Powell noted that the recent congressional delegation to Iraq headed by Sen. John McCain heard from combat officers that they wanted more troops.
”The colonels will always say they need more troops,” the retired general says. ”That’s why we have generals.”
A footnote: Senior Republican senators are trying to get word to the president that any troop surge would be dead on arrival in Congress.
One of the biggest underlying debates here is the idea of what “leadership” means.
Does it mean looking at all sides, then weighing pluses and minuses (in this case war needs, the national interest, the likely outcome of a given course of action or inaction)? Does it mean trying to have policies that enjoy the support of a coalition of American voters and legislators? Or does it mean setting a course you firmly believe is the correct one, even if the public and legislators don’t agree?
Once upon a time politicos wrapped themselves in the American flag, suggesting they were more patriotic than their opponents. In the past 40 years many politicians who were behind in the polls or lacked support have likened themselves to President Harry Truman. But Truman never made policy in such a seeming vacuum – where there seems to be such a lack of across-the-boards support. Bush’s announcement will likely be criticized by many but it’ll be hard to paint it as all coming from Democrats — unless Colin Powell and Oliver North have suddenly changed political parties. The only saving grace for Bush: Powell and North have already retired.
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5 Responses to “Novak: Colin Powell And Congressional Republicans Oppose Troop Surge”
A troop surge is what Bush is doing to give the appearance of being decisive and in command of a situation that has been literally out of control for about three and a half years.
A troop surge is what Bush is doing to try to cover his worthless butt, politically and legacy-wise — or so he thought (thinks).
A troop surge is what Bush is doing because Dick Cheney said to do it.
A troop surge is what Bush is doing because the Saudi prince-in-charge told Cheney to tell Bush to do it.
A troop surge is what Bush is doing because Karl Rove and Cheney think there’s a chance Democrats will rush to cut war funding, thus opening themselves up to 30 or 40 years of right-wing Republican political charges that the Democratic Party is the party of retreat and defeat.
A troop surge is what Bush is doing because he made a circle on a piece of cardboard, divided it into several sections with a marking pen, labled the pie-shaped sections with different options, put a pin in the middle, put an arrow-shaped plastic piece on the pin and spinned the arrow, which came to rest on the option that said, “Send a few thousand more troops.”
A troop surge is what Bush is doing for one or more of the above reasons. Mix, match and take your pick.
One of the biggest underlying debates here is the idea of what “leadership� means.
Very interesting and important question. Certainly a leader should not in all (or possibly even most) cases simply defer to public opinion. As your mom would say, just because everyone’s doing it doesn’t make it right.
However, in a democracy the whole point of democratic rule is that governmental decisions are ultimately subject to the will of the demos, the will of the people.
What’s so infuriating to me about Bush (well one thing anyway) is not that he’s willing to push past public opinion and do what he believes is right, but that he does so without giving any indication that he has an accurate perception of what the public actually wants.
If the president thinks that doing something vast majorities in this country oppose, so be it, just have the cajones to admit that’s exactly what he’s doing. And give us a clear argument why he is doing so.
Perhaps he will, but given past performance I have my doubts.
Leadership means being able to set plays, and pass the ball around, and not be afraid to head straight to the lane and draw the contact when you have to. Sure, taking a shot from half court might not seem like a bright idea, and putting three centers in the game might not work out so well, but, who knows, if you have three centers, that just means there’s more people to rebound the half court shot if you miss it, but if you hit it, hey, we…we, well, we’ve still got some time to play, but, a lot of our guys have fouled out…
The point is, the Bulls are going to the finals this year.
Its ok not to kowtow to public opinion, to say that your decisions mirror the judgements of the generals on the ground, as long as those decisions turn out to be the right thing to do, and you don’t shop for generals that just happen to agree with all of your preconceived decisions.
Sure! Lets send more Cylons to New Caprica. Oh wait. . .