Shorter Bill Kristol: The Surge worked! Democrats were wrong! Ha ha ha!
My Response: Kristol doesn't understand the difference between tactical and strategic success. Yes, I agree, the surge has been a tactical success. But who ever doubted it would be? I may be skeptical about many things, but the ability of the US Marine Corps to get the job done isn't one of them.
Strategically, however, the surge has clearly failed. When it was announced, the president and his supporters made clear that its strategic purpose was to provide the "breathing space" necessary for political reconciliation. Surge skeptics doubted this was possible. Nothing in Kristol's evidence suggests surge skeptics were wrong.
That said, I'm willing to make a deal with Kristol. If we all gather together to declare "victory," can we start bringing the troops home today? And if not, why not? Seems to me that if the surge has made Iraq a "success," its about time we bring this thing to a close, no? Unlike Kristol, I could care less about the domestic political ramification here. My opposition to this war, and my desire to end it ASAP, has always been about my country, not my political party.
Good thing the NYT has decided to give its very limited op-ed space to such a deep thinker.
UPDATE: An interesting defense of the new NYT-based Kristol here.
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