WP, Robinson: A 'Surge' in Wasted Sacrifice

[DeepModem Mom]

A 'Surge' in Wasted Sacrifice
By Eugene Robinson
Tuesday, December 19, 2006; Page A29

Here's an idea: Let's send more U.S. troops to Iraq. The generals say it's way too late to even think about resurrecting Colin Powell's "overwhelming force" doctrine, so let's send over a modest "surge" in troop strength that has almost no chance of making any difference -- except in the casualty count. Oh, and let's not give these soldiers and Marines any sort of well-defined mission. Let's just send them out into the bloody chaos of Baghdad and the deadly badlands of Anbar province with orders not to come back until they "get the job done."

I don't know about you, but that strikes me as a terrible idea, arguably the worst imaginable "way forward" in Iraq. So of course this seems to be where George W. Bush is headed.

Don't assign any real significance to the fact that the president has decided to wait until the new year before announcing his next step in Iraq, because if history is any guide, all of this photo-op "consultation" he's doing is just for show -- to convince us, or maybe to convince himself, that he has an open mind. The Decider doesn't have the capacity for indecision.

Through Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, he has ruled out direct talks with Iran and Syria to try to enlist their cooperation in quelling Iraq's sectarian civil war. Through his own remarks, he has ruled out a firm timetable for a U.S. withdrawal. He has declared himself open to any and all advice, but he rules out any course of action that in his estimation will "lead to defeat."

So much for the Iraq Study Group. So much for the will of the voters. As Dick Cheney helpfully spelled out just before the election, "full speed ahead."...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/18/AR2006121800945.html

[NRaleighLiberal]

1. A lifetime failure can only come with and support new failures....

why is anyone surprised? This man is wired for failure.

[babylonsister]

2. Recommend. Great article. nt

[Red Zelda]

3. Have a draft

send 100,000 more troops. Widen the conflict. Drop the bomb.
Maybe then more people in this asscrack country will pay attention to what immense tragedy is being done by * and his criminals.
"This just in: Santa is at the MALL!!!!"

[necso]

4. This is a tremendous --

and tremendously funny* -- piece.

*: A matter of taste; herein, my taste.

[Aviation Pro]

5. Small Dick "Fucking" Cheney.....

...is the author of this misbegotten, ill conceived, militarily insane idea. And what do you expect from a self-proclaimed military genius who served not one day in his life in uniform and collected five deferments to avoid service during the Vietnam era.

Sleep well, cocksucker, John Conyers mighty gavel is coming for you.