Obama's Surge Illogic

Barack Obama is running a good campaign. His staff understands the power of images and there have been no shortage of positive images for the Obama campaign during his trip to the Middle East.

Senator Obama has benefited from an adoring media who have not pressed him on the tough issues. But on his recent trip to the Middle East, he has been asked several times about his lack of support for the surge. An ABC correspondent posed to Senator Obama whether he would support the surge, knowing what he knew now? Katie Couric attempted three times to get a straight answer from Obama on this subject, without success.

Obama has begun to fully acknowledge that the surge and accompaigning change in strategy has transformed the security situation in Iraq. But Obama answered ABC that he would not support the surge knowing what he knows now. He went on to say that "these types of hypotheticals are difficult". He looked uncomfortable during the exchange and appeared weak in his response to a question he is bound to be asked.

To acknowledge the success of the surge but then to say he still would not support it in hindsight is illogical, and he knows it. It is hardly a difficult hypothetical to understand that if you knew the surge would work that it follows you would support it.

This is not the first time Obama has looked uncomfortable and unprepared when confronted with the rare tough question. When during the ABC debate George Stephanopolis asked him about his long term association with American terrorist Bill Ayers, he was similarly befuddled. Senator Obama is an accomplished and powerful speaker when aided by a teleprompter. Without a teleprompter and written script, he can be an indifferent speaker.

Perhaps chagrined about their lack of objectivity up to this point, hopefully the media will begin to ask the tough questions.