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http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/09/AR2010070905599.html
Without commenting on the pros & cons of this plan, it strikes me that we are really hamstrung by our inability to conduct diplomacy and planning in relative secrecy. Every staff toad out there seems to find it necessary to run out and leak the details of every meeting which takes place. That gets trumpeted to the world and hardens points of view into absolutes. When you read this story the first thing that springs to mind is that we are dealing with a sovereign government and of course they have their opinions on proposals for how to run a war in their own country. Frequently EVEN WHEN THEY PRIVATELY AGREE, publicly they first have to object (And sometimes they object because they really do know what they are talking about and really object to the proposal as it stands). I have no doubt that Gen Petreaous will sooner rather than later alleviate the Afghan fears and go forward with this.
I'm not complaining about the WaPo reporting this as it is their job to do so. My issue is with the military and foreign service staffers who leak all of this to the media typically so that they can show how connected they are.
Without commenting on the pros & cons of this plan, it strikes me that we are really hamstrung by our inability to conduct diplomacy and planning in relative secrecy. Every staff toad out there seems to find it necessary to run out and leak the details of every meeting which takes place. That gets trumpeted to the world and hardens points of view into absolutes. When you read this story the first thing that springs to mind is that we are dealing with a sovereign government and of course they have their opinions on proposals for how to run a war in their own country. Frequently EVEN WHEN THEY PRIVATELY AGREE, publicly they first have to object (And sometimes they object because they really do know what they are talking about and really object to the proposal as it stands). I have no doubt that Gen Petreaous will sooner rather than later alleviate the Afghan fears and go forward with this.
I'm not complaining about the WaPo reporting this as it is their job to do so. My issue is with the military and foreign service staffers who leak all of this to the media typically so that they can show how connected they are.
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