that we should be focused more on Pakistan, and that Pakistan was a major threat. I heard him talk about that in Iowa. I don't think he's been inconsistent.

Thzt's just shock value to get read about the main points of the article.

I have always been a huge fan of Arianna. She was instrumental in helping Obama win the primary over Hillary, and she was equally instrumental in helping him get elected.

Unlike Drudge-turned-sycophant, Arianna has done her duty in keeping respectful pressure on Obama from the left.

But Hyperbole does not suit her well.

President Obama made it very clear he wanted to emulate Lincolns cabinet of rivals to avoid the group think that got us into Iraq.

President Obama chose Biden for a very clear reason. How would his resignation help her point of view?

What I find most distasteful in this discussion over Afghanistan is the inherent assumption that Obama can somehow not be trusted to make the wisest military decision. I think Arianna betrays this arrogance too.

Has Obama issued any resolution yet? No. I hear fantastical numbers of 60,000 and 40,000 being thrown around, but not from Obama. I hear outlandish claims of Afghanistan becoming the biggest blunder of his Presidency, but not from anyone who has been able to articulate the consequences of our actions. Arianna:

Running a web site << Running the world's only superpower

Also, have we become so accustomed to Bush's impulsiveness and lack of critical thought that any time a leader takes the time to ponder the consequences of his actions, he doesn't know what he's doing? That plays right into the GOP meme that a strong leader shoots first and asks questions later.

Agreed. I thought the suggestion that Biden should resign to make a point the biggest piece of crap that I have ever read. It would accomplish nothing If Biden were Sec. of Defense that might make sense. But why should a man a heart beat away, as they say, resign? Constitutionally-speaking, the position is effectively powerless except in the rare case of a tie in the Senate. The post is clearly evolving. Perhaps it reached its apex under Cheney but it seems that going forward each President will use his or her VP in different ways. It is clear that Biden is carving out for himself a role as a deep strategic thinker. And he is one who has the ear of the President.

Biden is often derided for much. He's loquacious, can't shut up, garrulous beyond belief. But when I went to hear him speak two years ago, my impression was: this is a man who reads. I can think no higher compliment. He reads to gain insight and ascertain facts obviously but he reads not to confirm his opinion but to challenge it.

I don't always agree with Joe Biden but to listening to him I know that he has done his homework.

I don't know if there was a punchline to Joe's statement so much as he was trying to make a point. As I said previously, Obama has been consistent on this issue all the way through; but I do wonder what our strategic vision is right now and how Afghanistan fits into that.

I think that, as much as anything, is the point Joe Biden was making. I don't remember him previously pushing for a withdrawal from Afghanistan, BUT if this war no longer fits an over arching (effective) strategy to protect our country.

Ultimately, I don't think Biden goes far enough in assessing the problem that is Pakistan. Pakistan is a failed state on the verge of becoming a collapsed state. My worry is that Biden et al will try to save Pakistan. Only the Pakistanis can save Pakistan and it is not clear to me that will exists within Pakistan's elite.

As per what has changed on the ground?

Try just about everything. The Afghan rebellion is growing by the day because it is morphing into a Pashtun nationalist rebellion. Look at where the attacks are taking place. 90% of them take place in Pasthun areas. The Taliban are tapping into the resentment against the Karzai govt and against the NATO occupation successfully.

I am not saying you are wrong about the war in Afghanistan...and certainly the fact that it was a home for Al-Qaeda is why it was important. The question now is whether or not it is still an important part of the "war against terrorism."

What is the strategic purpose of the war in Afghanistan, not as of 2001, but as of today?

"...some British rag where one can check out women's breasts on display in some underwear fashion show or look at men in bikinis."

Ohs Noes!  Sometimes, those are the only links I click on during a slow news day.  Yup, its bad to exploit women, nudy pics and all that, but I like boobies and I like to look at beautiful women with not much clothing on.  

Is that bad?  If so, can you haz Unik me?  Can't make it on webz  wif pingus attasht.

Oh and by the way, Arianna's opinion that Biden should quit is truly one of the dumbest things I've heard in a while.  It doesn't even make sense. Her argument is that he shouldn't be the guy to write regretfully that he should've stood up and done something in a book 10 years form now, yet, as we sit here, Newsweek has already gone nationwide with his positions - he is standing up, writing briefs and being allowed to present his positions on a daily basis, ones that I am sure Obama is considering.

I see that the audacity of her title draws people in to read the column, but it really takes away the credibility of her piece, in my opinion, similar to my puerile comments at the beginning of this post.