Quote:
Originally posted by Tyrone Slothrop
Any reactions to Bush's speech last night?
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I didn't see the speech. I disagree with Ackerman. I also disagree with Fineman about whether this is any kind of real "escalation" or "surge."
An increase in troop levels of about 20K soldiers (one division, more or less) takes us back to the troop levels of early 2005.
It is an increase of about 13% over current levels. Not much of a surge. [Holy crap, am I agreeing with Ollie North?]
If this strategy is to be successful, it will be as much because of the non-military pieces (which I think are underfunded and may be too late) as because of any temporary troop increase -- though the latter is important because security is critical.
I am afraid we've reached the point where both sides are playing politics with this issue now.
That is part of why, aside from sheer personal glee over the extent of the GOP defeat, I was really hoping the GOP would narrowly hold the Senate. A Dem House would have been a useful check and comeuppance. I think a Dem Congress may push things too far in the wrong direction.
[I sound like Hank in reverse now, don't I?]
S_A_M
