Walter Shaprio in Salon hits the highpoints about the direction of debate that has not yet materialized.
With Bush reportedly poised to unveil his new military strategy next week, it is time to pose fresh, future-oriented questions about Iraq. If a “surge” in troop levels had a 20 percent chance of reducing the lethal nature of the civil war, would it be a risk worth taking? If America began a major troop withdrawal tomorrow, would more Iraqi civilians be alive in 2008? What should be the guiding philosophy that determines America’s next step in Iraq? Reducing U.S. military casualties? Saving Iraqi lives? Preventing further chaos in the region?
The purpose of these questions is to underscore that the answers do not flow naturally from prior positions on Iraq. It is possible to have staunchly opposed military action in Iraq and today have severe doubts about a precipitous American withdrawal. Similarly, it is conceivable that bomb-Baghdad hawks could now concede that the situation is unsalvageable and favor prompt American withdrawal. At a point when virtually everyone in public life is a hard-liner one way or another on Iraq, 2007 is the moment to add some long-missing nuance to the public debates over this military disaster.
Miliatary disasters, such as Iraq, are not the only issues that a little forward thinking. Connecticut is in a crisis of sorts, it’s just that the political debate we see doesn’t quite meet up with the future vision. Yesterday marked the innuaguration of not just Governor Rell, but the the constiutional officers and the state legislaters. Rell decided not to speak to the legislature but to the people, in a short speech during her innuaguration. Her theme was summed up by Jim Amann in the Courant: “I actually liked her speech. I’ll tell you why,” Amann said. “She’s trying to tell the people that the sun’s rising on Connecticut. It’s not setting. That there are a lot of challenges, but that’s an opportunity to do good things and great things.” Setting a tone is one thing, but following through with policy direction is what is sorely needed. Soaring energy prices is partly because of the deregulation ushured in by the legislature, but it is also an inevitable process of supply and demand. As we plug in more, the average energy usage per individual increases. Part of the solution is becoming more energy efficient as well as increasing the supply of energy. A focus on alternative energy sources is worthwhile but not the magic solution. Too often there’s a reflexive search for magic solutions to complex problems. That kind of thinking will not server Connecticut well.
