One of the greatest responsibilities a president has is to decide to send American women and men into combat. He should make that decision on his own, after carefully considering all the information and opinions of his advisors.
Anne Kornblut and Greg Jaffe make a call I’m not sure they have enough evidence to make. They seem to be reading Obama’s mind.
The military chiefs have been largely supportive of a resource request by Gen. Stanley A. McChrystal, the top U.S. and NATO commander in Afghanistan, that would by one Pentagon estimate require the deployment of 44,000 additional troops. But opinion among members of Obama’s national security team is divided, and he now appears to be seeking a compromise solution that would satisfy both his military and civilian advisers. [emphasis added]
“Appears to be seeking a compromise”? That, if true, is a damning observation, and surely will seized by Republican critics. A president shouldn’t be arbiter-in-chief. He shouldn’t “satisfy” his advisors. He should make the call based on what he thinks is right, not try to find middle ground among his advisors.
But that might not be the case, as there is nothing in the story to suggest he is looking for a compromise. I’d love to know why Kornblut and Jaffe make that call.