Wistful thinking

Wistful thinking. Via.

When is a plan not a plan?

"We're in a bit of a dilemma here because I think Senator Lindsey Graham and I and others will be wanting a strategy, a plan," McCain said on CBS' "Face the Nation" Sunday. "Rather than just we're going to launch some cruise [jump]
missiles and -- and that's it -- and even worry more when the president's chief of staff -- chairman of the Joint Chiefs -- says, 'Well, it doesn't matter when we strike.' Well, that's not a military action then. That's a symbolic action. So we need to have a strategy and a plan, and that plan, in our view -- the best way to eliminate the threat of Bashar Assad's continued use of chemical weapons -- and, by the way, we know he's used them a number of times before -- would be the threat of his removal from power," McCain said.

"Don't you threaten me with continued use of chemical weapons, President Assad," said President McCain, "or I'll remove you from power, young man."

"Oh, sorry, sir," said Bashar. "It won't happen again." Then he toddled off to church, helping old ladies across the street at every junction, and the stars twinkled merrily over Damascus as blessed peace returned to the land.

That was yesterday. Today,

Republican Sens. John McCain and Lindsey Graham emerged from a Labor Day meeting with President Obama saying they had more confidence that the White House is developing a Syria strategy they can support....

After meeting with Obama Monday, they both said they believed the White House is developing a strategy that would weaken the regime of President Bashar Assad and boost Syrian opposition forces — though they said Obama has more work to do to explain this plan.

I love the way they always complain, "I still have some questions," or, "He still has more work to do to explain." How long does it take? A Ph.D. defense only takes a couple of hours, and that's when at least one committee member hasn't bothered to read the thing. Why can't they ask their questions during the meeting?

That's the Senator John McCain you might remember from this:

Important visit with brave fighters in #Syria who are risking their lives for freedom and need our help pic.twitter.com/tx4uX572ZP
— John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) May 28, 2013

If one of these guys was a criminal involved in a kidnaping of Lebanese Shiite pilgrims, said McCain later, that was "regrettable". HuffPost:

"The people I met with and talked to directly were well-vetted. Their names and their duties were outlined to me. They came from all over Syria," he said.

He also vetted Sarah Palin carefully before naming her as vice presidential candidate in 2008.