Webb's Vision for Defense

[babylonsister]

Webb's Vision for Defense
'Something to Die For' Offers Window Into Webb's Views on War

Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) (WDCpix)


By Spencer Ackerman 06/02/2008


Everywhere Sen. Jim Webb goes, someone's asking him if he wants to be vice president.

The freshman Virginia senator's appearances on "Meet The Press" typically end with an attempt by the host Tim Russert to elicit a categorical statement of whether or not he'd like to be Sen. Barack Obama's running mate on the Democratic ticket. Webb usually tries his best to demure. "I've never had a conversation with Barack about any of this, so it’s really out of line to speculate," he told Deborah Solomon in The New York Times Magazine on Sunday.

Webb, on paper, presents much that makes him look like an attractive prospect for the ticket: a Navy Cross-winning Marine veteran of Vietnam; a high-profile stint as Navy secretary in the Reagan administration; early and vocal opposition to the war in Iraq; a giant-killer reputation honed by unseating Sen. George Allen in 2006, and a man-in-a-hurry pace of legislative achievements -- most recent, a popular update to the Montgomery GI Bill, providing more benefits to U.S. troops. Unsurprisingly, Webb has attracted a bevy of speculation about his inclusion as a vice-presidential candidate for Obama, the likely Democratic candidate.

Even if Webb doesn't end up on the ticket -- for one, many on the left have rejected Webb for decades-old sexist comments about women in the military -- his perspective on defense issues will likely play a large role in the public debate.

Yet Webb still remains unfamiliar to many, and his Vietnam record and ex-GOP allegiance create cognitive dissonance as to what he actually believes about defense. While Webb's long record of public statements offer numerous clues to his vision for U.S. national security, a novel he published in 1991 might be the most surprising, and surprisingly, informative, part of his record.

As an author -- Webb has written nine books -- the senator is most famous for "Fields Of Fire," considered by some to be among the finest novels ever written about the Vietnam War. By contrast, "Something To Die For" is obscure, but no less impressive. In it, Webb applies the lessons of Vietnam to meditate on both civil-military relations and the consequences of making decisions of war and peace without considering the national interest.

more...

http://washingtonindependent.com/view/book-report-webbs

[Faygo Kid]

1. I'm impressed. I like the guy a lot.

He brings a lot to the table, including possibly Virginia. I'm sensitive to his comments from many years ago, though. Still, he's a bright guy who can reach across the aisle but is still tougher than nails. He won't take any guff from McCain or his Veep candidate.

Might also be a superb choice as Secretary of Defense. With a Dem governor, his seat would be safe.

[OwnedByFerrets]

2. I do NOT want Webb on the ticket.....

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/05/27/the-case-against-jim-webb_n_103661.html

[babylonsister]

3. Thanks for that link. I guess that would leave Wes Clark out, too. Do

you have any ideas? I haven't read your link in its entirety, but there are some valid reasons in there. I'm still going to go with Obama's instincts. I trust him to weigh each person's pluses and minuses and pick the best one for him.

[OwnedByFerrets]

4. The ONLY reason I would choose Clarke

is for his perceived ability to bring in the clintonistas.

[babylonsister]

5. Not good enough. I never had faith in him. Go figure. nt