Did Webb and Allen Actually Agree On Something

By: Ambivalent Mumblings
Published On: 9/18/2006 12:19:07 PM

This is cross-posted on Ambivalent Mumblings

Jim Webb and Senator George Allen actually agreed on something during yesterday's debate on Meet the Press, but you very well might have missed it. I know I did at first.

As the New York Times points out, Senator Allen claimed that we should do what it takes to make sure America is secure.

In one of the sharpest exchanges of the campaign, Mr. Webb and Mr. Allen squared off on the war in Iraq on +óGé¼+ôMeet the Press+óGé¼-¥ on NBC on Sunday, with Mr. Allen defending the Bush administration+óGé¼Gäós policy and denouncing the +óGé¼+ôsecond-guessing and Monday-morning quarterbacking+óGé¼-¥ of the critics. +óGé¼+ôWe+óGé¼Gäóre going to need to do what it takes to succeed,+óGé¼-¥ Mr. Allen said, when asked if he would support additional troops in Iraq, +óGé¼+ôbecause it+óGé¼Gäós essential to the security of the United States of America.+óGé¼-¥
Although this might not be the case, Allen+óGé¼Gäós answer implies that he hasn+óGé¼Gäót formed an opinion about the troop level and is willing to listen to fellow policymakers in order to come to the best conclusion. Since Allen has no experience in the military, one would think that he would listen to his colleagues who have experience in military affairs. After all, those are the people who arguably would be able to properly analyze the situation.
Well, wouldn+óGé¼Gäót you know it, there was a man sitting right next to Allen who had served in various positions in the military +óGé¼GÇ£ Jim Webb. Webb was a graduate of the Naval Academy and served in Vietnam. Two years ago, he also spent time in Afghanistan as a journalist. Therefore, it is safe to say that he is familiar with the threats that the men and women of our armed service are facing. (Allen, however, probably doesn+óGé¼Gäót want people to know that his writing career actually caused Webb to further his knowledge on the current situation)

Webb also served in two military positions +óGé¼GÇ£ Assistant Secretary of Defense for Veteran Affairs and Secretary of the Navy +óGé¼GÇ£ the Reagan Administration. Not only did he receive those positions as a result of his leadership and analytical skills, but they also allowed Webb to become even more familiar with the political aspects of the military.

It is also important to note that Webb has a personal interest in ensuring that the situation in Iraq is successful +óGé¼GÇ£ his son is currently serving as a marine. Although the extra evidence isn't necessary, his son+óGé¼Gäós service in the military ensures that he wouldn+óGé¼Gäót take a stance on the war purely to advance his political career. Therefore, if Allen truly believes that the nation+óGé¼Gäós security is dependent on the situation in Iraq being successful, he should value Webb+óGé¼Gäós opinion. The question then becomes, what did Webb have to say about the situation in Iraq?

+óGé¼+ôI know what it+óGé¼Gäós like to be on the ground. I know what it+óGé¼Gäós like to fight a war like this, and either +óGé¼GÇ¥ there are limits to what the military can do. Eventually, this is going to have to move into a diplomatic environment, and that+óGé¼Gäós where this administration seems to have blinders. They are not talking to Syria, they are not talking to Iran, and there are ways that we can do this, move this forward.+óGé¼-¥
Assuming Allen would be wise enough to consider recommendations made by a people with military experience; one could conclude that both politicians would agree that the Bush Administration needs to place more importance on building diplomatic relationships instead of automatically turning to military options. Unfortunately, that isn+óGé¼Gäót necessarily a safe assumption. According to own admission during yesterday+óGé¼Gäós debate, Allen has been known to claim he made up words without realizing they actually meant something. Therefore, we don+óGé¼Gäót know for certain whether or not he actually means that he wants to do what is necessary to protect the security of the United States.

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