Quote:
Originally posted by Spanky
Bush's statements don't make it more difficult for us to win in Iraq. Bush's statements help encourage the troops.
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I probably should scroll than post, but I do not think we can yet know this.
Overconfidence has played a big role in losing many wars; had Johnson in particular taken a more measured and strategic approach in Vietnam, and had he set attainable goals rather than pursuing outright and total victory, we might have had a much different outcome. Had Napolean decided to stop at Poland, he might have dominated Europe for a generation more. Had the Soviet Union been willing to negotiate reasonable terms early on in Afghanistan, the recent history of that country might be much less tragic.
We will know in ten years whether the President's confidence is overconfidence or justified. I, like many people, have become increasingly convinced that he focuses too much on the rosy scenarios and too little on the risk.
In the meantime, if the troops feel he is divorced from reality and not aware of their real situation, his statements may well be harmful. A good example is the "Mission Accomplished" fiasco. That was simply outright regreatable in hindsight, though I have no trouble understanding and sympathizing the jubiliation at the time. Similarly, I am told that the Thanksgiving trip over there was poorly perceived, because the press was Bush with the troops having a big Thanksgiving dinner, at a time when most of the troops were not getting Turkey with all the fixings.
A certain amount of bravado is fine, and inspirational (as long as he doesn't behave like Dean in Iowa). But right now he is looking out of touch to me.
