There’s been lots of ink spilled about John McCain’s assertion that we should stay in Iraq for 100 years, but this latest quote might be even more damaging–or at least it should:
As for pulling out of Iraq, McCain said there is only one man who will determine when that is appropriate and the name he mentioned was not his own.“There is only one man who should decide when to withdraw from Iraq and that is (General) David Petraeus,” the Arizona Senator said.
Guess what, Senator: if you want to be President, you decide the national security policy of the United States (or at least for the executive branch). You don’t hide behind the General’s skirts.
This isn’t just a matter of political responsibility: it’s a matter of foreign policy ability. Clausewitz’ dictum that war is politics by other means requires military force to be related to political objectives. Generals are not expert–or often even competent–to assess political objectives. If you leave it to them, you are not only abdicating responsibility but ensuring a security disaster for the United States.
This is one more exhibit in why the Republicans cannot be trusted with American security.