I think you missed the point. It's a slap at The Defense Dept and State and the White House for not having a better plan post war.....
A pretty gutless article if you ask me. Seems like a Democratic attempt to walk the tight rope of praising the military while not directly trashing a popular president.
If the author had any balls, she'd call a spade a spade and lay it out there for all to see.
Alas, she only has ovaries.
I reread it myself and I will admit my mistake. Having finished the second, and more careful reading, of the commentary, I believe the writer to be off base.