E-mail:

Do you find it ironic that the change in strategy in connection with the surge seems to be working because it reversed course from (i) keeping a low U.S. troop profile, (ii) turning things over to the Iraqis sooner rather than later, and (iii) focusing on political reform rather than military success? These three approaches have not worked – and they have also been foremost in the advice of many war critics. The only exception I can think of (other than the advice to withdraw, of course) is the criticism that we did not have enough troops in Iraq. Of course, as soon as the surge was proposed, many critics dropped this line and opposed the surge.

ME: Yes, I do.