The attacks from the right on Jim Webb's "radical" idea that the US involve Iraq's neighbors in taking responsibility for the country's future have fallen noticeably silent of late.
Could it be that's because Republican Senate Majority Leader Bill "video diagnosis" Frist has decided it would be a good idea to give Afghanistan back to the Taliban?
Frist's plan seems to be to declare defeat and get out.
Lets walk through this, shall we?
Frist wants to let the Taliban back into Afghani government. (I can't believe I just wrote that.) The Taliban. The regime that gave sanctuary and material support to Osama bin Laden and al-Qaida while they were planning and executing the 9/11 attacks. The Taliban. The regime that we went to war specifically to overthrow. The Taliban. State sponsors of terror (remember "with us or against us"?).
The Taliban sponsored the 9/11 attacks, the reason we invaded Afghanistan and (ostensibly, at the time) the reason we invaded Iraq.
Lets be clear here: Letting the Taliban back into Afghani government would be like giving Saddam Hussein a ministry portfolio in Iraq.
Apparently, letting our proven enemies take control of the countries we have invaded is preferable to developing a local community in which the neighbors take some responsibility for the re-stabilization of Iraq, thereby reducing our burden.
Iran aided us in Afghanistan (before the colossally stupid "axis of evil" speech). They continue to work with the Afghanis and are investing in Afghanistan. This is just fine with the US. But not in Iraq?
Wake up! Iran is already benefiting from the situation in Iraq. It is time that they share some of the burden as well as (most of) the benefits of our ill-conceived adventure there.
Jim Webb already understands this. He has a clear plan for the region. Which Bill Frist, the President, and George Allen clearly do not.