A Times of London columnist is putting forward David Petraeus as a genius choice for a McCain's running-mate. The underlying rationale -- war is ennobling -- is delusional. But delusional doesn't mean impossible -- that's something we've learned to our cost over the past seven years.
Let's start with the fact that the US invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan have been successful. That okay with you?
That audacious, bold, reinforcing choice would be to nominate General David Petraeus, commanding general of the multinational force in Iraq and the author of the “surge” that has saved the United States in Iraq as well as the Iraqi people (and revived Mr McCain's bid for the presidency in the process). His scheme is now being duplicated successfully in Afghanistan by his disciples in the US Army.
... Petraeus has managed to take a vast army that was effective at conventional fighting but close to useless when confronted with a guerrilla enemy and turn it into an organisation that can today do counter-insurgency superbly. This is an achievement that makes turning a supertanker around on the high seas during inclement weather look as easy as clicking one's fingers. General Petraeus is a genius.
Whew! At least we could counter John Nance Garner's notion that the vice presidency isn't worth a pitcherful of warm spit. Bottom line: by the time we elect such a pair as McCain and Petraeus (two more conventionally delusional men would be hard to find) it's democracy and self-respect that would be drowning in warm spit.
