Americans do not like "no win" wars, and never have. As far back as the Civil War, Democrats gained ground in Congress and the Northern state governments in the 1862 off-year election as the South generally won the battles. Had Sherman not taken Atlanta and marched to the sea, McClellan might have defeated Lincoln in 1918. Had the D-Day landing not been successful and our forces not made advances in the South Pacific, FDR might have been defeated by Dewey; as it was, the 1944 election was the narrowest electoral victory that Roosevelt won. During the Korean War election of 1952, voters gave the GOP control of both houses of Congress and the Presidency for the first time in 20 years. Republicans made gains in 1966 and 1968, capturing the Presidency, as the Vietnam War ground on. For their turn, the Democrats gained ground in 1970, as Nixon's conduct of the war seemed similar to that of Johnson. Had Nixon and Kissinger not forced the North Vietnamese to the bargaining table in 1972 through bombing Hanoi and Haiphong, a measure that conservatives had advocated since 1965, that year's election might not have been a triumph for Nixon.
The GOP disaster of 2006 is a repetition of an old pattern dating back to the Civil War era. If America does not achieve a military victory, or it looks like we are not making headway, the party in power suffers. Like it or not, Americans will not suffer prolonged, indecisive conflicts.
McClellan might have defeated Lincoln in 1918Now that would have been a long campaign! Sorry I know you meant a different date but I just couldn't resist. Yes you are correct about the "protracted war" syndrome. Yet we are so impatient now and really seem to lack any perspective. Our casualties have been amazingly low but that's not what John Q "end the war" public believes now. The power of the media is frightening.
Like it or not, Americans will not suffer prolonged, indecisive conflicts.Protracted? Iraq?
Americans had better grow a pair and send the missiles up now or learn to handle it or they will be marching to a different 'conservatism': Sha'ria.
This isn't Vietnam. They attacked us. They are used to protracted conflict, and they won't quit just because we do.
Like it or not, Americans will not suffer prolonged, indecisive conflicts.
We are sunk then. This is a different enemy. One that has dug in world wide and blends in with society. We will be fighting this enemy for the rest of time.