Musing Obama's surge speech, regardless of whether you agree with it or not, this puzzles me:: The 'surge' proposal is supposed to give 'breathing room' for a political solution/training local army. Critics say "enemy will just lie low and wait for us to leave if we announce timetable." Wouldn't that give breathing room then?
Bruce Johnson
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Joel Webber
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That is, guerrilla war already is "lying low", if announcing a time table causes them to stop attacking for 2 years until we leave, that would seem brilliant. Two years of lower violence to stabilize government from simply announcing when we leave. If the Taliban simply stand by for 2-3 years while the government is built up on the theory they'll strike back once we leave, it seems they're taking a big risk letting their opponent have a 2-3 year ride with no counter attacks. Thus the McCain/Cheney "announcing timetable will embolden them or they'll just lie low until we leave" criticism seems weirdly contradictory.
- Ray Cromwell
Great point, Ray. Never thought of that before.
- Bruce Johnson
I just heard Robert Gates make the same point in Congress, in response to McCain making that same tired assertion. He said something like "Wouldn't it would be *great* if the Taleban would like low for a year or two and stop blowing people up?".
- Joel Webber
Ha, maybe I should offer my services to the Obama administration. :)
- Ray Cromwell