Veteran talking head Tom Brokaw was on Charlie Rose the other night. He’s been off in this election cycle, hamstrung by his pro-McCain tire-swinging (plus his debate moderation sucked), but it’s pretty clear from this clip (via The Daily Beast) that he totally gets the sad reality rub of The War on Terror. I’m not entirely sure as to the viability of the “diplomatic special forces” or the “super peace corps types” he advises, but at least he gets the worth of soft power. There is no other way in Afghanistan. Trouble is, it’s never worked before…

Extra: Slate has more of the interview here, including the part where Brokaw inexplicably calls out his peers for the silliness of their campaign reporting and singles out bloggers for their usurpation of the “gotcha” fetish that the milieu inherited from Brokaw and his spawn.

Pot, kettle, black, repeat.