Democrats don’t want to cut off funds for the Iraq war, but they don’t have the votes to stop it any other way. Fear of Republican rhetoric has them lost in a fog. Bush’s new request for money gives them another chance. The House should pass it, contingent on delivery of a plan to safely [...]

As a child I loved the glass boxes where you could fish for toys. I would put a nickel in the slot, turn cranks to position the claw, press the “grab” button, and watch my red car fall back into the pile. Then I’d beg for another nickel. Like President Bush, striving to find something [...]

Rush to Failure and Choose to Lose replace Cut and Run. A bumper sticker surge.

We can’t foresee political progress, or define military victory ― so, Bush has lost the Iraq war. If Democrats said that often enough, Bush’s vague, “we must finish the job,” would soon sound as empty as it is. If Congress mandated a return to twelve month troop rotations, in every defense appropriation, and let any [...]

The surge is Bush’s answer to the urge to purge the failure in Iraq from his legacy. He wants to delay acknowledging his inability to meet any of the war’s objectives until the next election. That way, in his mind at least, we’ll be winning when he leaves, so it will be 44 that loses [...]