The Gerson Files

---In honor of mike gerson's ridiculous piece on obama today I am starting my own fictional tour of president McCain's zany adventures. If anyone is listening, enjoy. ---

For McCain, leadership is not something you can use against him. I mean, he was tortured 30 years ago.

But let's do a little thought experiment. Imagine 60 days into his presidency he leaves for Iraq. Unannounced and in the middle of the night he arrives in bagdad and choppers to his favorite local market. In darkness and, surrounded by a combat brigade, announces to the media 'look at the surges success. I mean 2 years ago I wouldn't have been able to just walk around like this. But we need more markets open, so I am announcing we are going to send two more battallions and extend the surge until the mission is accomplished. If that's 5, 10, or 100 years it doesn't matter.'

The next day the local paper outside Fort Hood carries the headline 'President Promises More Reinforcements to Iraq'. The story includes quotes from numerous high ranking officers about how the military is on the brink of breaking, and how this will mean even longer tours and less time home for those fighting. Buried deeper in the paper is a story of a returned soldier whose ptsd claim had been denied, was told he was being sent back, and had then committed suicide. This one will not make the national news.

The president then returns to the Green Zone and summons the leaders of the major political parties to meet him in Saddams old palace.

Those dependent on US supplied weapons show up. At the head of the table the president thunders 'you need to fix your country. Now cut the bullshit!' The assembled politicians look at each other slightly confused and perturbed. 'I don't know what your problem is' he continues 'but get over it!'

He gets up and abruptly leaves. At the door he stops, turns, and adds 'I know what leadership is. If you cannot make the hard choices and lead your country I will find someone else who can.'. He then walks out and is out of Iraqi airspace within two hours.

The next day the major papers thunder in applause. 'Tough talk' is the buzz word. In Iraq the story is the huge insult that has been handed their leaders. Over the next month the political process collapses. Inter and intra party violence spikes dramatically as iraqi's jostle for position. And cooperation with the Americans sky rockets as everyone jocky's to become the 'one who can.'