Anyone catch Barry Macaffery on NPR this morning?

[Perky]

Said that

September is a completely artificial time to determine if the surge is having a demonstrable effect. Strongly suggested that the surge was creating a whack-a-mole effect and that the insurgents would attack forces wherever the surge wasn't.

But then went on to say that casualties rates would like soar because of deadline however. He also said September will be a good time to assess if Iraq is a sustainable operation:

Said that key indicators will be "unreplaced equipment", too many sergeants and captains not re-upping, and a decimation of the national guard.


He was saying basically that long term involvement was probably not doable because the people and the infrastructure necessary to effectively sustain it was fundamentally not there any more.

So if it is not militarily sustainable, if it is not politically tenable for the GOP after September, you have to believe pressure will mount from within the GOP to get out.

[Captain Hilts]

1. He really takes the Army's view: Against the war, in favor of doing it big and right, against...

the way the Admin has run the war and the way they're treating the troops.