War Games

The Washington Times has an article today on a "war game" conducted by the Bush White House and included the "shadow" members of the incoming Obama Administration. The subject of the war game was the simultaneous detonation of bombs in several US cities.

This is to be applauded.

The article quotes incoming Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel as saying:

"This is just one example of what has been ... an unprecedented integration of transition," said Mr. Emanuel, who regularly criticized Mr. Bush when he was a Democratic leader in Congress.

"And I cannot thank President Bush as well Josh enough for their efforts in making sure that this transition is seamless," Mr. Emanuel said.

It is nice to see the children in DC playing well together. It is good for the nation.

One thing about war games at that level. In the past, and I would hope into the future, it was considered important to keep the actual great men, and great women, clear of having to make pronouncements about key decisions--the most obvious being the use of nuclear weapons. We would not want any possible opponents to think they knew the mind of the President, nor would we wish to have the President appear to commit himself to some course of action that would then be considered a precedent, including within his own cabinet and the National Security Council.

Regards -- Cliff