February 04, 2008
Was McCain the REAL Father of the Surge?
Anyone who's read my posts knows I'm one of those who won't be voting for the GOP's fair haired boy. Nonetheless, I'm more than happy to give credit where credit is due, and I've always given credit to Maverick for backing President Bush on the surge strategy. In an op-ed today, Bill Kristol takes it one step further. According to Kristol, Maverick was not merely a supporter, but rather the very motive force behind the surge:
Without McCain’s public advocacy and private lobbying, President Bush might not have reversed strategy and announced the surge of troops in January 2007. Without McCain’s vigorous leadership, support for the surge in Congress would not have been sustained in the first few months of 2007. So: No McCain, no surge. No surge, failure in Iraq, a terrible setback for America — and, as it happens, no chance for a G.O.P. victory in 2008.I don't exactly remember the history that way. What I remember is a whole lot of people--including Rusty and myself--openly criticizing Rumsfeld's management of the war, in particular his attempt to fight a war with too few troops. I also remember no change in strategy prior to a nasty electoral defeat at the polls in November 2006, an event followed by Bush admitting that Rumsfeld had already resigned, and the new defense team laying out General Petraeus' surge strategy (aka "enough troops") not too long thereafter. Seems more than a bit of stretch to paint Maverick as the key motive force behind the whole thing. Then again, I've slept since then. Your thoughts?
h/t : HotAir.
By Ragnar Danneskjold, Typical Bitter Gun-Clinger at 10:50 AM |
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