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

Good for McCain and good for NY Times

I’ve popped him in the past, so I want to pause to note these commendable words from Sen. John McCain: I disagree with many of the president’s policies, but I believe he is a patriot sincerely intent on using his time in office to advance our country’s cause. I reject accusations that his policies and ...

SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images
SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images
SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images

I've popped him in the past, so I want to pause to note these commendable words from Sen. John McCain:

I’ve popped him in the past, so I want to pause to note these commendable words from Sen. John McCain:

I disagree with many of the president’s policies, but I believe he is a patriot sincerely intent on using his time in office to advance our country’s cause. I reject accusations that his policies and beliefs make him unworthy to lead America or opposed to its founding ideals. And I reject accusations that Americans who vigorously oppose his policies are less intelligent, compassionate or just than those who support them.

Our political discourse should be more civil than it currently is, and we all, myself included, bear some responsibility for it not being so.

Also, the New York Times yesterday had the best newspaper article I’ve read on the Stuxnet bomb. I hope to have some expert commentary on it later this week.

Thomas E. Ricks covered the U.S. military from 1991 to 2008 for the Wall Street Journal and then the Washington Post. He can be reached at ricksblogcomment@gmail.com. Twitter: @tomricks1

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