Combat veteran 1, chickenhawk speechwriter 0

Michael Gerson thinks Jim Webb is a little confused. Well, one of them is.

Here’s Webb:

The majority of the nation no longer supports the way this war is being fought; nor does the majority of our military. We need a new direction. Not one step back from the war against international terrorism. Not a precipitous withdrawal that ignores the possibility of further chaos. But an immediate shift toward strong regionally-based diplomacy, a policy that takes our soldiers off the streets of Iraq’s cities, and a formula that will in short order allow our combat forces to leave Iraq.

Here’s Gerson

Senator Webb’s logic was as incoherent as his language (the two are often related). No “precipitous withdrawal”—but retreat “in short order.” Fight the war on terror vigorously—except where the terrorists have chosen to fight it.

Ummm … Mr. Gerson? Isn’t the first rule of strategy to fight on the ground you choose, not on the ground your enemy chooses?