Once again, this article raises the (since Vietnam ever-present) question of the appropriate role of policy makers in Washington in determining targeting at the operational and tactical levels. From where I stand, that role ought to be extremely limited. If policy makers and senior, not in theater people are unhappy with Gen Petraeus's results, then they should find somebody else to do the job.

On a related note, any strong feelings about the appropriate level of involvement for national-level, strategically focused intelligence agencies in Iraq and Afghanistan? Should agencies like CIA be concerned with the Iraq HVI list?