Saturday, September 15, 2007

Politicians and Military

Democratic Senator Jim Webb has introduced a proposal that would require troops to spend as much time at home as their most recent deployment. The idea is to force a reduction of troop levels in Iraq.

When I started my business career I was given sage advice by the VP of operations in the company I worked. He said "don't cover up a problem, fix it!" It was clear he lived by that standard and was one of the best managers I worked with during my career.

Webb's proposal is a problem cover up and may have serious unintended consequences. I dislike politicians getting that involved with the military operations and more importantly, it is inspired by an immediate situation as a way to achieve an objective without regard to long run consequences. A problem cover up.

Perhaps politician are used to obtaining their goals through such manipulation so think little of it. After all, they routinely achieve ends through compromise and working the system. Never the less, it is wrong. Both from the immediate perspective of being required to force troop withdrawals through such means and wrong from the aspect of an administration that is so adamant that the back door approach must be used. Sure would be nice if the politicians truly worked together for the best interest of the country.

Politics as usual.

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