This is what happens when you don't post for a long time

The words get all bottled up and then come out in a rush.

So, the President, with whom I, like millions of others, am disenchanted, announced yesterday that he's accepted from General Casey a plan for troop withdrawal. General Casey is commander of the Iraq operation (CINC South-Com?). The plan is a studied and phased withdrawal, based on the experience and recommendations of the commanders on the ground in Iraq.

Today, the Dems are calling the President and Republicans hypocritical for not accepting their ill-thought and non-planned "plan" for withdrawal, while crafting a "Replublian" withdrawal plan of their own. Note I say "Republican." It's not a Republican plan at all, but rather a military plan create by the people who know the situation best.

Let's think about this.

The Democratic plan was arbitrary, not based on input from the DOD or from commanders in the field. It said, bascially, that troop levels should be reduced in 2007 and beyond.

Casey's plan is (I assunme) based on careful study and consideration, created with the input of his field commanders and his command staff. It will consider the consequences and requirements for withdrawal, likely specifying acceptable levels of Iraqi security forces needed to replace US units. The plan likely won't leave American units exposed or Iraqi civilians at risk since it won't withdraw a US unit if an equivalent Iraqi secuity presence isn't there to take up the slack (at least this is my hope).

So, while the Democrats were bandstanding and hand-waving, the President and his military commanders were creating a careful PLAN for the safe withdrawal of our troops that will (hopefully) leave behind some modicum of security for the Iraqi people.

Hypocritical? Hardly.

Practical? Certainly.

Good on you, Mr. President.