The hawks, like John McCain and Joe Lieberman, advocate escalation — tens of thousands more troops. But others advise caution, and argue for a nimbler, counterterrorism approach.

As per usual, the war-mongers are questioning not just the strategy, but the motives and patriotism of those who disagree with them.

What’s the old saying about the man with a hammer thinking everything is a nail? It seems to me that’s how the right-wing and much of the Republican leadership think. Just about everything we’ve touched lately, we’ve smashed with that hammer, and their answer to cope with the increasingly failed result is a bigger, badder hammer — at a time when maybe we can’t even afford it anymore.

What I truly understand about the Afghanistan war could be handwritten on a post-it note, probably with room left over, but — since I occasionally like to delude myself into believing you or a member or your staff read this blog from time to time — I’d nevertheless like to add my puny little voice to those who are saying maybe it’s long past due for a little more nuanced approach: thoughtful, intelligent, and with an understanding that we have, and have always had, other tools at our disposal besides Olaf’s big ol’ hammer.

Please provide that leadership, Mr. President.