"What I found in discussions with current and former members of this administration is that there is no agreed-upon strategic view of the Iraq problem or the region. In my view, there are essentially three strategies in play simultaneously.....
The day-to-day work of the White House implementation manager overseeing Iraq and Afghanistan would require a great deal of emotional and intellectual energy resolving critical resource issues in a bureaucracy that, to date, has not functioned well....We cannot "shorthand" this issue with concepts such as the "democratization of the region" or the constant refrain by a small but powerful group that we are going to "win," even as "victory" is not defined or is frequently redefined.....
I concluded that the current Washington decision-making process lacks a linkage to a broader view of the region and how the parts fit together strategically. We got it right during the early days of Afghanistan -- and then lost focus. We have never gotten it right in Iraq. For these reasons, I asked not to be considered for this important White House position. These huge shortcomings are not going to be resolved by the assignment of an additional individual to the White House staff.
Anyone who has any degree of competence in national security management and leadership of large, complex problems is running away from this position. So who is left to fulfill this critical and needed role of blame catcher?
The Angry Drunk Bureaucrat has found an ideal candidate:
Former Boston Red Sox First Baseman Bill Buckner has been tapped by the President to act as the new War 'Czar' to coordinate military activities in both Iraq and Afghanistan......
When asked why he accepted a job that was turned down by several high ranking military personnel due to the perception that the position was merely a "scapegoat", Buckner was reflective.
"Since '86, I was continually blamed for losing the [World] Series, spit on by fans, mocked, jeered, and burned in effigy. Even when the team owners couldn't manage their way out of a paper bag, spend money wisely, or hire competant players, I got the blame. Year after year, I got the blame... until '04.
"Once they actually won the championship, I was plum out of a job and I realized I kind of missed being blamed for the horrible mistakes of others. This is old hat to me.
Despite the deep psychic wounds that have broken through the scarring of 1986, I have to support the Buckner for War Czar campaign. He can take the blame with the best of them.
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