Commenting on Rice’s testimony today, Gary Schmitt writes:
This is the first comprehensive statement made by a senior administration official that lays out a sensible counterinsurgency strategy and accepts the fact that we will be deeply involved in the business of helping build a state. For that reason alone, it is a major step forward. Now, of course, it has to be backed up with institutional support and a sound inter-agency process here in Washington. As we’ve come to learn over the past few years, the administration can have all the great ideas in the world but fall short in actually carrying them out in an effective manner. Nevertheless, if the deeds in fact match the words, then Secretary Rice’s statement will be seen as a significant milestone on the war on terror and transformation agenda for the Middle East.
