Assorted links 10-20-09

1. Steve Coll with some wise thinking on Afghan policy. The simplemindedness of the debate between those who support McChrystal's advocation of more troops vs. pulling out is astounding. Looks like Obama is getting it right again.

2. Mark Thoma on Bernanke's comments about the meltdown. It seems quite clear to me that we need a better regulatory structure in the financial markets. We are missing the opportunity to do something right.

3. Ezra Klein on the right's new disingenuous bashing of Obama's health care reform on costs. This also shows the weakness of trying to limit costs by simply giving everyone Medicare and have the government control costs. The actual measures will by susceptible to political infighting. If there is going to be a central cost determiner, it has to be a separate agency from Congress, like the Fed. But I still prefer a solution that uses national health care exchanges to offer individuals choice and to encourage price competition amongst providers and insurance companies.