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Politics : Don't Blame Me, I Voted For Kerry
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To: Ann Corrigan who wrote (10424)3/28/2004 4:48:18 PM
From: CalculatedRiskRead Replies (4) of 81568
 
Ann, I consider Bush WEAK on terrorism. Let me explain:

I supported Bush when we attacked Afghanistan for harboring Bin Laden and al qaeda. I believe any President would have done the same. However, early on, the Bush administration made the tactical error of using mercenaries at Tora Bora (The ancient Greeks knew not to use mercenaries in a siege). This was a horrible mistake, but we all make tactical errors, so I was prepared to forgive this mistake. I assumed (incorrectly) that Bush would redouble his efforts to pursue the perpetrators of 9/11.

I also supported Bush when he demanded that the UN inspectors be allowed to return to Iraq. For me (and most of the World that supported Bush on this point) this was separate from the war against terrorism. But Bush went further, he made the strategic error of conflating nation states (like Iraq) with undeterrable terrorist groups like al qaeda. He also made the strategic error of conflating mustard gas with nuclear weapons. These strategic errors led to the mistaken policy of invading Iraq.

This also led to another tactical error: removing the Fifth Group Special Forces (most of our Pastun and Dari speakers, and many of our Arabic speakers) from Afghanistan for redeployment in Iraq. The US also redeployed our only RC 135 spy planes from Afghanistan to Iraq.

Clearly, Bush lost focus. The reason is obvious; he made a series of strategic errors that led directly to more tactical errors. Bush has tried to replace “moral clarity” (Good vs. Evil) for strategic clarity. The result is a confused strategy on terrorism.

Defeating terrorism requires a clear strategy:

1) Pursuing the perpetrators of 9/11, relentlessly, to the ends of the Earth.
2) Defending our country from terrorist attacks.
3) Pursuing a foreign policy that changes the breeding ground for terrorism (Bush has ignored this area).

After 2 ½ years, Bush should be able to go before the American people and explain his overall strategy without resorting to platitudes (“good vs. Evil” or “with us or against us” or other meaningless statements). On this count, Bush has failed miserably.
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