Gonz, what you posted doesn't make any sense at all. It doesn't address that Afganistan isn't, and probably never will be American friendly. And it doesn't address why you brought up Willie's willie. That he's a letcher. A liar. A pig of the first order. Sure. But what does that have to do with his ability to govern? I've had bosses who were total assholes. But they could manage an office too. As much as you'd like them to, one doesn't actually have anything to do with the other. Kennedy was getting as much tail in office as Clinton. And a helluva lot better quality tail, I might add. But I don't hear any complaints about his handling of the Cuban missile crisis. And I'll wager that they're not the only presidents getting a little on the side, either.
I'll put it as simply as I can, and I'll beg your indulgence of my ignorance of american politics. The president's office is an awful place to work. In fact, not much ever gets done there. Imagine the stacks and piles of paper that would have to pile up just in a single day, if the president really made many decisions at all. It stands to reason that only matters of supreme importance would actually cross the president's desk. What would constitute important would vary greatly from one administration to another, wouldn't it?
Something blasted across the 5 o'clock news would probably make it. But it's time on that desk would probably equal it's time on the tube. Considering the amount of time Clinton spent in court defending himself, I don't think it's unreasonable that a few hundred americans getting bombed in an attack thousands of miles away would get shuffled out pretty fast. It would get the attention of an under secretary or some such and that would be that.
You need to remember that the president's office is a political position. Not a career. All thinking is done within a four year box. And if, God forbid, you manage to stay popular enough to land a second term, that's it. No reup a third time. So you're not thinking about what you'll do with Umbanaland next year. You're thinking about how you can position yourself to keep making greenbacks once you're out of office. After all, how many former presidents have returned to the senate/congress? they go back to the private sector.
The question you guys really need to ask yourselves is, "Who's really making the decisions?". Civil servants? Ministers? A magic 8 ball? I'd recomend watching a few episodes of Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister, if you can find them. PBS sometimes carries it. I'd wager it's a closer portrayal of politics than West Wing.
I can't wait to hear his reply...
