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Tuesday, April 24, 2007 12:00 AM

Right message, wrong response

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  • Tuesday, April 24, 2007 09:45 AM

    Tail/dog

    Strictly speaking, I wouldn't let polls govern military strategy except in the broadest terms. We began this war with overwhelming popular support, and while nearly everybody now wishes it had never happened, simply withdrawing is not the same.

    I happen to agree that at this point it's time to have the Iraqi parliament declare us unwelcome, which we are, and accede to their demands that we leave it in their hands. And if the Americans no longer want to spend their lives and treasure on the war, the President should seriously consider their opinions.

    But not allow them to override all military judgment. Consistency is too important to military strategy to allow shifting public opinion to flutter it about. The American voters get to make a serious change every four years, and two years ago they were dumb enough to "stay the course". As horrible as that course is, changing it as the electorate shifts is not always wise policy, either. On this issue polls should guide, not control, our policy.

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