I worked with GEN McKiernan when he was a major and I was a captain. He was the operations officer, S3, of 1st Brigade, 3d Armored Division in Germany at the time, 1984-85. I was the brigade fire support officer. I knew back then he would become a general officer. Really one of the best officers I ever worked with. Very smart and results-oriented.

In defense of his statement, I think he is pointing out that the new, 20K troops are not a "surge" because that new, elevated force level will have a longevity to it that the Surge in Iraq was never intended to have. What he's really saying is not that he needs 20K more troops now, but that he's needed them all along.

That's no political talk but blunt speech, even if "inartfully" expressed.

Noted and corrected.

In defense of the pontificating class, if all you deal with on a daily basis are the manipulative and self important, you tend to start thinking everybody is like that.

Afghanistan-Bananistan...

Is that a Dortmunder reference?

Yes it is! Extra points for picking up on that reference.

Some General Officers are given to blunt talk. Gen. Mattis of the Marines and Gen. Honore of the Army are known examples.

And that should be encouraged.

P.S. - I like using Absurdistan and Revoltia - upper, lower, eastern, western. Sort of like the old 'Ruritania'.