THAT'S A NOVEL INTERPRETATION OF THE POSITION OF COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF THE UR HAS:

Troop-Boost Plan Gains Backing (PETER SPIEGEL and YOCHI DREAZEN, 10/24/09, WSJ)

The Obama administration is moving toward a hybrid strategy in Afghanistan that would combine elements of both the troop-heavy approach sought by its top military commander and a narrower option backed by Vice President Joe Biden, a decision that could pave the way for thousands of new U.S. forces. [...]

People familiar with the internal debates say Mr. Obama rejected a strictly counter-terror approach during White House deliberations in early October. One official said Pentagon strategists were asked to draft brief written arguments making the best case for each strategy, but the strategists had difficulties writing out a credible case for the counter-terror approach -- prompting members of Mr. Biden's staff to step in and write the document themselves.

Sure, we all get that Mr. Obama has little interest in the job of being president generally, and none in the foreign affairs part, is he really just there to split the difference between the US military and a vp they can't even let appear in public? It's entirely possible that Mr. Biden has the better argument, but aren't we entitled to some evidence that his boss understands the arguments and has thought them through?

Posted by Orrin Judd at October 24, 2009 4:01 PM