Useless Dithering
A lot more often than you might think, the best policy option is to do nothing. It's certainly a lot better than rushing around doing anything for the sake of doing something. Doing nothing, in virtuous circumstances, preserves the option of intelligent action once the alternatives have been carefully weighed. (If this seems painfully obvious, believe me, in the thick of things it isn't.) Doing nothing, nevertheless, while at the very same time closing out most or all of the clear options, cannot be a good thing.
At first glance Mr. Obama's willingness to take his time over any decisions regarding Afghanistan — particularly to veteran foreign policy bureaucrats — seemed laudable. Now, however, he says he wants to "dispense with the straw man argument that this is about either doubling down or leaving Afghanistan." Which keeps us pretty much where we are, indefinitely. And that's a truly terrible, losing position to be in. I'm starting to feel a strange sort of sympathy for Gen. McChrystal, insofar as he's chafing at Mr. Obama's obstinate indecision. No doubt the president's private sidestep is even more annoying than it is in public. It may well be that only bare-knuckle political pressure will move him one way or the other, and yet it still seems premature to guess whether Republicans or liberal Democrats will get to him first.
Posted by George Kenney on October 6, 2009 11:51 PM 
« The 2009 Podcast Awards Competition | Main | Two Links »
Leave a comment