To my mind the so-called "surge" will be the biggest question at Friday's foreign policy debate.
And the question is how will Senator Obama handle it. It is really not a tough question, and I hope (and suspect) that the Senator has a ready answer.
But there is an answer that I've not heard him give. (If he has, please forgive me.)
The answer seems simple, and turns it back on McCain/Bush. The answer is that while of course our military has performed as asked—as our men and women always do—the surge has failed to fight terrorist tactics and terrorism. And in that respect, while the surge is a successfully military tactic it has done nothing to move us toward a successful policy against terroristic tactics.
He should say something like:
The miliary has done it's job. But the surge hasn't worked:
If the surge has worked, why is Osama Bin Laden still on the loose?
if the surge has worked, why is the Taliban resurgent in Afghanistan?
If the surge has worked, why isn't John McCain ready to leave Iraq?
The surge, Senator McCain, is a diversion from what we need to be fighting through targeted military means and diplomacy.
The surge we need is in diplomacy and smart, targeted missions, NOT a hammer that just breads more resentment and terrorism and continues occupation.
and repeat: If the surge has worked, why is Osama Bin Laden still on the loose?
and maybe even Obama should answer that rhetorical question, as in: Wrong tactic, wrong place.
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I think it would be useful in the comments to discuss thought on how Obama should/will discuss the "surge" which we know will be highlighted in the debate.
He should give no quarter to McAint on this.