Our generals, like the good soldiers they are, are loyally fighting the war in Iraq with the weapons the politicians are giving them. But if those weapons are not sufficient, or, conversely, if sending 21,000 more men to Baghdad is a fool’s errand, their loyalty should not prevent them from saying so.

According to Bob Woodward in his book, Plan of Attack, there was a furious debate in the Bush Administration before the war started. Colin Powell had misgivings about the number of troops we were sending into Iraq and other issues. Secretary Rumsfeld, on the other hand, repeatedly asked our generals for plans that used fewer troops. How much better off might we be today if that debate had been public?

There were probably similar debates about the President’s plan to send 21,000 more men to Iraq. Did everyone agree? Were there two – or three – sides to that debate? We are, hopefully, learning from our mistakes in Iraq and charting a wiser course. But our generals can add a clarity to the debate about Iraq that has been lacking. If they need more men – especially if they need a lot more – to win, by speaking out they can help avoid another error.

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