Resource (mis)allocation

Three stories this week illustrated how the McCain/Bush foreign policy is failing our military structure and national strength in general.

First, Bob Woodward reports how President Bush ignored the advice of his military chiefs at the Pentagon and surged five brigades that we could ill afford to use. The Washington Post and his new book show that the narrow-minded view of Iraq has drained needed resources from our force and from Afghanistan. Speaking of Afghanistan...

That leads to the second major story this week. Admiral Mike Mullen, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said that "I'm not convinced we're winning in Afghanistan," and that "frankly, we are running out of time." Barack Obama has said from 2002, that we should focus of ridding al-Qaeda and the Taliban from Afghanistan, and rebuilding a viable state should be the only priority. Even before John McCain, he called for additional brigades to go to Afghanistan.

Lastly, tonight Sarah Palin gave an interview (link, link) that raises concerns about her knowledge and judgment. As Thomas Friedman says, a president or vice president needs the judgment to decide when the two two smartest advisors disagree.

She cavalierly discussed the possibilty of having to fight Russia over Georgia. With what resources Governor? McCain and Bush have advocated stretching our resources too far while cutting taxes on the wealthy.