Progress Toward a Moving Target; Is Success Perpetually Pending?
Whether progress toward peace and stability in Iraq is occuring is apparently a hot topic among the political pundits. Mary Matalin was so perturbed at Bob Shrum this morning that she tossed her pen across the table at the end of a Meet the Press segment. http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/09/02/meet-the-press-a-pissy-mary-matalin-throws-her-pen-when-punked-by-shrum/
At the heart of the debate, of course, is whether real progress is being made in Iraq and when and if the US should withdraw. Shrum suggests the American people will not support a long and continued involvement in Iraq. Matalin suggests real progress is being made, despite questionable progress measures, and that US should remain long enough to be successful.
Most American’s probably agree we have some responsibility for not leaving Iraq in a mess. And if success is truly imminent, most probably support continued engagement (at least temporarily). But American’s may be weary of hearing that success is imminent. At some point average people start to wonder whether success is something that is always within grasp but never attainable (the perpetually dangling carrot). The psychology is that people start feeling that they are being led-on.
Shrum is probably right that the voters will not go along with prolonged occupation. It is not enough just to make an argument that success is close or progress is being made. This may come across as a last ditch strategy to stretch it out for just as long as it is utterly possible. What is needed is a specific explanation to the voters as to how and why the adminsitration thinks the socio-political environment can be changed in Iraq; along with specific objective measures that will indicate success or failure one way or the other.
In any case, the debate continues.
If you have an opinion on this subject, please leave a comment.
