A rolling stone gathers no moss, and this week a loose-tongued General got steamrolled by a paper one. President Obama did the right thing in canning McChrystal. But his appointment of David Petraeus bodes very badly for the July 2011 withdrawal start date. Last week, Petraeus hinted as much, telling Congress he would recommend delaying the withdrawal if conditions in Afghanistan didn't improve (and is there anyone left who thinks they will?). Petraeus Ex Machina got the president's backing: "We didn't say we'd be switching off the lights and closing the door behind us," the commander-in-chief told the nation. Something tells me that Obama - McChrystal + Petraeus = upping the ante in Afghanistan. We need to change the equation.
Sunday Roundup
A rolling stone gathers no moss, and this week a loose-tongued General got steamrolled by a paper one. President Obama did the right thing in canning McChrystal. But his appointment of David Petraeus bodes very badly for the July 2011 withdrawal start date. Last week, Petraeus hinted as much, telling Congress he would recommend delaying the withdrawal if conditions in Afghanistan didn't improve (and is there anyone left who thinks they will?). Petraeus Ex Machina got the president's backing: "We didn't say we'd be switching off the lights and closing the door behind us," the commander-in-chief told the nation. Something tells me that Obama - McChrystal + Petraeus = upping the ante in Afghanistan. We need to change the equation.
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