Bush, Abizaid and who is in charge of our course in Iraq

[Coexist]

Reading this post from Sic Semper Tyrannis made me realize just how backwards I have been looking at the Abizaid Q&A from yesterday.

<snip>
But... Military strategy is constrained not only by "conditions on the ground," but also by policy guidance from the national command authority. In other words, military commanders try to adapt the methodology of what they are doing in order to carry out national policy. They do not have the luxury of re-defining the mission. They do not have the luxury of re-defining the mission.

In other words every single person in the armed forces has the job of carrying out George Bush's policy. They do not have the job of telling him why he should have a different policy.

That is why it is useless for the media to interview generals (or anyone else on active duty in the military) about "what should be done in Iraq." Soldiers asked to answer that question have no choice but to tell the interviewer (and the audience) what they think is necessary to carry out the national policy guidance that they have been given. They are not at liberty to suggest a new policy.

'43 has gotten used to this situation, so, when he tells the world that he welcomes suggestions about "what to do in Iraq" what he is saying is that he will listen to suggestions about how to carry out his policy.

Pat Lang

Amazing stuff, no? I feel like I just saw the strings at the puppet show.

Doh!

[kenny blankenship]

1. That's right, and they are not at liberty to say that the policy is fucked or impossibly difficult

[Coexist]

2. and I sat there, the Senators and Congresscritters sat there

and we all waited for something important to fall out our Abizaid's mouth.

ugh.