nice response to Vennochi re JK and Afghanistan

[MBS]

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/letters/articles/2009/11/09/kerry_sees_success_hinges_on_more_than_troop_levels/

Kerry sees success hinges on more than troop levels
November 9, 2009

JOAN VENNOCHI’S recent criticism of Senator Kerry (“On Afghan war, pick a side,’’ Op-ed, Oct. 29) misses the point of the debate over Afghanistan on multiple levels. Vennochi seems to think that Kerry’s refusal to back either a rapid withdrawal or a military increase represents timidity and wishy-washiness. In fact, Kerry has rightly recognized that success in Afghanistan, whatever that may be, depends on much more than troop levels.

If Kerry’s stance could be reduced to a set of yes-or-no questions, that might be convenient for pundits like Vennochi, but that would be the stance of an ideologue, not a statesman. More troops might make “the difference between success and failure,’’ as Vennochi puts it, if properly deployed and paired with a political strategy. But Kerry certainly shouldn’t endorse a troop increase until he’s convinced that President Obama and our generals will put them to the right use. Moreover, Kerry can hardly be expected to foresee how Afghan President Hamid Karzai, the Pakistani military, or our NATO allies will behave - all of whom will play large roles in the future of Afghanistan.

When Obama announces the new strategy in Afghanistan, Kerry will have to evaluate it on its merits and make his decision. In the meantime, I’m glad he isn’t placing himself on either extreme, promising victory or threatening defeat, as Vennochi seems to want him to do.

Andrew Mayersohn
Wellesley

For those masochists who want to see Vennochi's original piece,and who missed earlier mention of this (I think Mass posted this earlier?) see
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2009/10/29/on_afghan_war_pick_a_side/
One bonus to online version is a nice photo of JK in Afghanistan

[karynnj]

1. that is a wonderful response

with more thought in each carefully worded sentence than in Vennochi's whole piece. He really slams her in the second high lighted sentence. It is wonderful that he so succinctly says everything that needs to be said on her idiotic op-ed.