Two articles from the February 4, 2007 Washington Post

Two lessons on decision making:

"What to Ask Before the Next War: Don't Let the People Who Brought Us Iraq Define the Questions" by Paul R. Pillar.

The administration so successfully shaped the policy question around its chosen selling points involving these two issues that what passed for a national debate gave little attention to important questions about the likely nature and consequences of a war. The debate was largely reduced to contemplating the terms of a pseudo-syllogism.

"No I-Told-You-Sos: Opponents of the Iraq War Voice Pain, Not Vindication, At Predictions They Could Only Hope Would Be Wrong" by Lynne Duke.

For people who were pilloried, penalized or warned to be careful because of their opposition to a powerful president's war, vindication is nothing to celebrate. It is a victory most bitter.

Take pains to frame decisions correctly, making sure to include the risks as well as the benefits, and to consider broadly the important consequences of important decisions. Include people with opposing views in the discussions, don't isolate them from the debate.

These seem so obvious in retrospect, but are so often rejected in the heat of the moment. Decide in haste, regret at leisure!

Check out these 28 Aphorisms from Underconsideration.com.