That's the problem. It's "your view". You see the glass half-empty, rather than seeing correctly, that the glass just filled up and overflowed.
I can see how you would say that, but I don't think it's really the case. I think the positives are that a new gubmint is now fully in place. They are taking a much more active role now. More and more news reports come out from THEM about goings on, not from us, which is excellent. So far much has been accomplished. In 2004 America averted disaster by reelecting a president who is serious about foreign policy, a man who can withstand a constant daily pummelling and stay the course. Big time kudos to him and to the ppl who reelected him. All of this is excellent and crucial. Don't get me wrong.
I just think the media is misreading events. They are in a media bubble. To them, the trip was a clever political ploy. A photo op. A scheme to gain political points. Maybe so, but I don't think so. And I truly don't think it is much of a factor in whatever poll surge GW is experiencing. I could be wrong. I think getting Zarq and getting the new gubmint in place is what made the difference. The trip is merely underlining those points. On the downside, Iraq is still a very dangerous place, as GW emphasized in the Rose Garden. The next step will be for Iraqis to stand up and do something about it. Once that happens, the DEM party position on Iraq will be decimated once and for all.