Thanks, Sam. At the current death-rate, in another month, more American soldiers will have died in Iraq during the guerrilla-war phase (post-5/1/03), than during the conventional war phase. I am encouraged, that polls say the tide of militarist euphoria in America is past its peak, and is steadily ebbing. Support for the war, support for the President and his policies, willingness to continue the open-ended occupation, and the cost in blood and treasure, support for all this is steadily eroding. Still a solid majority, but the pendulum is starting to swing the other way.
The other encouraging thing is, with 150,000 troops permanently committed to the two Tar Babies of Iraq and Afghanistan, and without the draft, there is no possibility of any further adventures. For the "foreseeable future", as Rumsfeld puts it. No matter how much the War Party would like to continue, no matter what voices Bush hears (the VoiceOfGod telling him to wage war on the Others), he can't do it. We have reached the Limits of Force, the limits of our willingness to kill and die. |
