During the debate, McCain kept saying Obama doesn't understand foreign policy. He used the example that Obama says he will go into Pakistan and take out bin Laden without the support of Pakistan's government. He harped on this point over and over saying, "You just don't say things like that." He insisted that it might be something you have to do but you should never announce it. I think McCain is dead wrong on this.
We should all know by now that Obama doesn't make rash statements. He chooses his words carefully and says things for a reason. He said if he had good intelligence pointing out the location of OBL in Pakistan and the Pakistani government was unwilling or unable to take him out, he would authorize our people to do it without their help. The phrase "unwilling or unable" is the key to Obama's pronouncement.
The Pakistani government is fragile. There are factions that would topple it if they overtly attacked Al Queda in their own country. Anti-American sentiment is strong among many of these groups. Covert help is available but to maintain cover in an operation like that it would have to appear that the U.S. was going it alone, infiltrating without their aid and support.
One of the ways to avoid exposing those who aid us is to announce boldly in advance that we (the U.S.) will handle this on our own without the support of the Pakistani government. That gives them the ability to announce afterwards that they were not involved and are shocked and outraged about it. We achieve our goal of taking out OBL and they save face with the various internal factions. It's win-win.
McCain's position that you just don't talk about things like that is not only wrong, it's naive. Anyone who really understands foreign policy understands that what is said is equally important as what is done. McCain just doesn't get it.