Wittes and Goldsmith

Ben Wittes at Brookings and Jack Goldsmith at Harvard Law School wrote an Op-Ed in the post on Monday. Essentially the outline two ways regarding national security policy.

The first is Bush. It is entirely focused on the executive. It does not include Congress, because that route is messy and gets bogged down in politics. Congress could also hamper the Executive.

The second is Franklin Roosevelt. It seeks to bring Congress along and work with them in outlining these matters. Yes, politics is messy, but the goal is to reach consensus that people buy into. It perhaps even seeks to restrain the executive, because sometimes some outside oversight is necessary. We do not want meddling, but we want some control.

Sadly, one part of the administration's policy they argue, and I sort of agree with, is that we have gone more Bush and FDR. Then again, I know again, Congress is the most hated branch of the government.