Defense Deficiency & Political Posturing Masquerading as Policy

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INVESTOR'S BUSINESS DAILY has the story about yesterday's Democratic debate. A few quotes below:

No one in the top tier of candidates at the Dartmouth College debate was willing to commit to something party leaders have called for all year — a timetable to leave Iraq. None would even commit to removing all the troops by 2013, the end of the next president's first term.

"I think it's hard to project four years from now," said Sen. Barack Obama. "It is very difficult," agreed front-running Sen. Hillary Clinton, "to know what we're going to be inheriting." As for John Edwards of North Carolina: "I cannot make that commitment."

There you have them — the profiles in political courage who have scored President Bush dozens of times for failing to "commit to a timetable," but who in a debate suddenly find it impossible to see even five years down the road.

No, it's the political cowardice of their stance that's bothersome. If you truly believe that the U.S. should leave Iraq, on a timetable, then commit to it. Say it out loud and out front. Let people know.

But telling your party's left wing in a time of war that you'd pull out the troops, then coyly winking and saying, "Well, who knows?" is irresponsible and deceitful. It is political posturing masquerading as policy. Worse, it sends the wrong signal to foes who see confusion, indecision and irresolution among our future leaders.

The candidates weren't any better on Iran. None had an answer for Iran's headlong effort to become a nuclear power. All they did was mouth platitudes about "exhausting" all diplomatic efforts. OK, then what? Not a clue.

Fact is, diplomatic efforts on Iran are pretty much "exhausted." Iran's president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, said as much Tuesday, when he told the world he'd never give in to the demands of "arrogant powers" to halt Iran's uranium enrichment program.

"The nuclear issue of Iran," he declared at the U.N. General Assembly in New York, "is now closed." Back to you, Democrats.

"It is political posturing masquerading as policy." Very fitting. I like that statement.

These Democrats have no answers. Not on Iraq. Not on Iran. Not on the economy. They're bordering on absolutely worthless.