Congressional Democrats, newly installed as the majority on Capitol Hill, yesterday wasted no time in letting President Bush know that they consider themselves his equal regarding the formulation of military policy.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid sent Bush a letter demanding that he reject any plans for a troop surge in Iraq, insisting there is nothing more to be gained there militarily.
"There is only a political solution," the two Democratic leaders declared. "Adding more combat troops will only endanger more Americans."
We're not surprised that Pelosi and Reid feel the need to publicly flex their new political clout - especially on one of the core issues behind their party's victory last November.
But they'd do well to remember that the nation has only one commander-in-chief - especially in time of war.
Meanwhile, see what Ralph Peters has to say about the latest move at CentCom.
ASSIGNING a Navy aviator and combat veteran to oversee our military operations in the Persian Gulf makes perfect sense when seen as a preparatory step for striking Iran's nuclear-weapons facilities - if that becomes necessary.
While the Air Force would deliver the heaviest tonnage of ordnance in a campaign to frustrate Tehran's quest for nukes, the toughest strategic missions would fall to our Navy. Iran would seek to retaliate asymmetrically by attacking oil platforms and tankers, closing the Strait of Hormuz - and trying to hit oil infrastructure in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf emirates.
Only the U.S. Navy - hopefully, with Royal Navy and Aussie vessels underway beside us - could keep the oil flowing to a thirsty world.
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