Comments on: KEEGAN: INQUIRY POINTLESS http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/keegan_inquiry_pointless/ Online Journal of Politics and Foreign Affairs Thu, 26 Nov 2009 16:55:42 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: legion http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/keegan_inquiry_pointless/comment-page-1/#comment-11813 legion Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000 /?p=4915#comment-11813 "...indications, which require imagination to interpret correctly." Yup. That's the problem right there. It takes imagination. Insert your own "Uncurious George" joke here. "...indications, which require imagination to interpret correctly."

Yup. That's the problem right there. It takes imagination. Insert your own "Uncurious George" joke here.

]]> By: James Joyner http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/keegan_inquiry_pointless/comment-page-1/#comment-11814 James Joyner Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000 /?p=4915#comment-11814 Is it your contention that presidents interpret raw intelligence data to make these judgments? Is it your contention that presidents interpret raw intelligence data to make these judgments?

]]> By: legion http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/keegan_inquiry_pointless/comment-page-1/#comment-11815 legion Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000 /?p=4915#comment-11815 No, but they certainly set the tone for their staff and advisors. And one of the hallmarks of this administration is that _nothing_ is a failure and _no_ decision is ever wrong. Keegan is dead wrong when he says an inquiry is pointless (at least, I think that's what he says - I can't get to the article link right now). If everything is spun as a victory, then there's nothing we can learn from, and the same mistakes will be made over and over (and still called successes). Who, what, and why can be (and will be, no doubt) debated forever, but I think it's pretty obvious that _some_ mistakes were made in this whole Iraq affair. To say we can learn nothing by examining them is surprising from a professional thinker like Keegan. No, but they certainly set the tone for their staff and advisors. And one of the hallmarks of this administration is that _nothing_ is a failure and _no_ decision is ever wrong. Keegan is dead wrong when he says an inquiry is pointless (at least, I think that's what he says - I can't get to the article link right now). If everything is spun as a victory, then there's nothing we can learn from, and the same mistakes will be made over and over (and still called successes).

Who, what, and why can be (and will be, no doubt) debated forever, but I think it's pretty obvious that _some_ mistakes were made in this whole Iraq affair. To say we can learn nothing by examining them is surprising from a professional thinker like Keegan.

]]> By: James Joyner http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/keegan_inquiry_pointless/comment-page-1/#comment-11816 James Joyner Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000 /?p=4915#comment-11816 His objection is to <i>yet another</i> inquiry. Having some sort of blue ribbon panel do this is necessary politically. And I think there may be something to be learned here. But, fundamentally, this is about the nature of secret intelligence: it's a near-impossible task. His objection is to yet another inquiry. Having some sort of blue ribbon panel do this is necessary politically. And I think there may be something to be learned here. But, fundamentally, this is about the nature of secret intelligence: it's a near-impossible task.

]]> By: Blackfive - The Paratrooper of Love http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/keegan_inquiry_pointless/comment-page-1/#comment-11817 Blackfive - The Paratrooper of Love Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000 /?p=4915#comment-11817 <strong>Tuesday Links</strong> This via Instapundit - Davids Medienkritik - Politically Incorrect Observations on Reporting in the German Media By: David Kaspar: In the past when we had a severe case of political rage we simply conquered France (in the morning; afternoon was Tuesday Links
This via Instapundit - Davids Medienkritik - Politically Incorrect Observations on Reporting in the German Media By: David Kaspar: In the past when we had a severe case of political rage we simply conquered France (in the morning; afternoon was

]]> By: Feste...a foolsblog http://www.outsidethebeltway.com/archives/keegan_inquiry_pointless/comment-page-1/#comment-11818 Feste...a foolsblog Wed, 31 Dec 1969 18:00:00 +0000 /?p=4915#comment-11818 <strong>Bonfire of the Vanities #31</strong> Outside the Beltway hosts this week's blog dreck fondly known as Bonfire of the Vanities. While you're there, James has a must read post of the intelligence inquiry: KEEGAN: INQUIRY POINTLESS Bush had to get out front and form... --- Bonfire of the Vanities #31
Outside the Beltway hosts this week's blog dreck fondly known as Bonfire of the Vanities. While you're there, James has a must read post of the intelligence inquiry: KEEGAN: INQUIRY POINTLESS Bush had to get out front and form...

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