With the election results, this debate has become immaterial. The American people will not sustain or support a continuation of this war. If GWB continues it without support, in the next election the people will elect a Bernie Sanders government that besides pulling our armed forces out would unilaterly disarm our populace and socialize the nation. The lives lost in the meantime would also be in vain. Too many here could not face the reality of this election and its results even though any reasonable thoughtful person knew what was coming.
After serving a tour in 67, I remember what it was like on my second tour in 69 and 70 after the signal had been sent to the military that we would be getting out of Vietnam. It was as if a bell had been rung and everyone knows a bell cannot be unrung. Poor morale spread like a virus. I hope and pray that if the decision is made, we don't string it out for two or three more years.
Bernie Sanders? You made me swallow my tongue.
While some folks may not like my analysis...were this a college football game...your University of Alabama team out there fighting for 3 quarters of the game and 40 points ahead...and the referee comes to the sideline to tell the coach and the team that even at 40 points ahead at the end of regulation time...they will still go into overtime, then double-overtime, then triple-overtime...you'd have the wind taken out of your sails.
There is no absolute and clear "achievement" point that this adminstration can point to and say the word "finished". They can't even sit and plan an exit strategy because they know the casuality count will be huge in the final weeks as they exit.
Were this a football game as I describe above (a terrible analysis)...the best you can hope for is Coach Paul "Bear" Bryant's ghost stepping out of the shadows and just leading the team off the field. Either you win at the end of regulation or its not worth playing. At the point we caught Saddam...we were in the final two minutes of regulation...we aren't accomplishing much else from that point. We've won the war...lets leave now.