Plan B

by shamanic

It's not just for contraception anymore!

Frederick Kagan, in The NYTimes, yesterday:

there is no Plan B because there cannot be one. The idea that there can be a single alternative strategy, developed now, just at the beginning of the surge, is antithetical to the dynamic nature of war. At this early stage, there are only possible general responses to various contingencies, which will become more focused as operations move forward.

(hat tip Cernig, who continues with a fine discussion of that quote, and others.)

John Boehner in the The LA Times, today:

A key Republican House leader said Sunday that if President Bush's current strategy in Iraq is not working by fall, members of Congress will demand to know what the White House's next plan is.

Rep. John A. Boehner of Ohio, the House minority leader, said the troop buildup had shown some success and noted that it was not yet complete. But he embraced the idea of setting benchmarks for the Iraqi government and requiring Bush to assess the Iraqis' progress on a monthly basis.

"Over the course of the next three months or four months, we'll have some idea how well the plan is working," Boehner told Chris Wallace on "Fox News Sunday." "Early signs are indicating there is clearly some success on a number of fronts. But … by the time we get to September, October, members are going to want to know how well this is working, and if it isn't, what's Plan B?"

Think there's some heat starting up on Capitol Hill? Sure looks that way.