Not long ago, Arizona Senator Jon Kyl was concern-trolling about "people on the left" who might not be willing to listen to the Generals On The Ground in Afghanistan:
Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-AZ) agreed, noting that Democrats were not united during the meeting at the White House while Republicans were unified in pushing for an increase in troop levels as soon as possible. "There are a lot of different views within the Democratic Party ... there are obviously people on the left who don't want the president to follow the general's recommendations," while others are ready to back McChrystal, Kyl said.
Over the weekend, Kyl was on "Fox News Sunday", concern-trolling about the prospect of President Obama insisting on some sort of nettlesome timetable for withdrawal -- or even worse, an "exit strategy":
"Talk of an exit strategy is exactly the wrong way to go," said Senator Jon Kyl, an Arizona Republican. "I certainly hope the president doesn't do that, because all that does is signal to the enemies and also to our allies, to the folks in Pakistan as well as the Afghanis, that we're not there to stay until the mission is accomplished."
Uhm... maybe Jon Kyl should spend a little time listening to General McChrystal! I have, and I distinctly remember him saying this:
When the briefing was finished, McChrystal looked around the room. "Gentlemen, I am coming into this job with 12 months to show demonstrable progress here -- and 24 months to have a decisive impact," he said. "That's how long we have to convince the Taliban, the Afghan people and the American people that we're going to be successful. In 24 months, it has to be obvious that we have the clear upper hand and that things are moving in the right direction. That's not a choice. That's a reality."
Of course, McChrystal will soon offer some Congressional testimony that might walk this back. But it sort of makes you wonder how people like Kyl will reconcile "follow[ing] the general's recommendations" if those recommendations include a deadline said general imposes on the whole operation.
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