More Mischaracterization

David Asednik's comments on Howard Dean's criticism of Bush's case for war: "While Dean can argue with some validity that the war may have been a mistake given our failure to find a substantial cache of WMD, this sort of statement implies that because we made a mistake by going in, we should pull out right now regardless of the consequences. That is the kind of short-sighted thinking that makes it so hard for me to even consider supporting the Vermont governor's bid for Commander-in-Chief."

Howard Dean's views on Iraq, as publicized on his web site: "That is, after all, now much more than a national security objective. It is a declaration of national purpose, written in the blood of our troops, and of the innocent on all sides who have perished."

UPDATE: David Asednik defends his position. For the record, I think Dean's position in debates mirrors what he says on-line, but I can't say for certain on that point. I will grant that his point about wondering where Dean's instincts are and how he would manage foreign policy as President go straight to the heart of my questions about Dean and the reasons I wish he would name some foreign-policy advisors.

UPDATE II: Matthew Yglesias also chimes in, suggesting Bush did "cut and run" in Afghanistan despite the rhetoric on his side. The comments thread is, as usual, worth checking out.