Best Defense
Thomas E. Ricks' daily take on national security.

Hey, what’s that on the horizon?

Why, I believe that’s Obama’s political base disappearing in the wake of Dana Priest’s revelation that six weeks ago he approved inserting Special Operations troops into Yemen to plan operations and to provide weapons and intelligence support. It’s probably what he should be doing, given the clear and present dangers presented by al Qaeda finding ...

By , a former contributing editor to Foreign Policy.
Ryan McD/flickr
Ryan McD/flickr
Ryan McD/flickr

Why, I believe that's Obama's political base disappearing in the wake of Dana Priest's revelation that six weeks ago he approved inserting Special Operations troops into Yemen to plan operations and to provide weapons and intelligence support. It's probably what he should be doing, given the clear and present dangers presented by al Qaeda finding safe havens in Yemen. It underscores that his administration is trying to deal at the source with the place that produced the toasted-testicles terrorist of Detroit. 

Why, I believe that’s Obama’s political base disappearing in the wake of Dana Priest’s revelation that six weeks ago he approved inserting Special Operations troops into Yemen to plan operations and to provide weapons and intelligence support. It’s probably what he should be doing, given the clear and present dangers presented by al Qaeda finding safe havens in Yemen. It underscores that his administration is trying to deal at the source with the place that produced the toasted-testicles terrorist of Detroit. 

But still. One of Tip O’Neill’s sayings, after "All politics is local," was "Dance with the one that brung you." I wonder when the left gets a dance. Maybe gays in the military?

Thomas E. Ricks is a former contributing editor to Foreign Policy. Twitter: @tomricks1

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