[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Special Note:

***************************************

John Negroponte is set to move from director of national intelligence to deputy secretary of state.

[unkus]

Important ping for later

[oceanview]

finally.

the "surge" won't work without some new tactics and new rules of engagement - and Abizaid and Casey can't deliver that. fire them, this is Bush's last chance on iraq.

[pissant]

Abazaid was set to be rotated out.

[Gay State Conservative]

Having watched the BBC with some regularity and seen their anti American venom they don't,IMO,have any credibility in covering this country.

[billybudd]

More window dressing for the American defeat.

[Marine_Uncle]

Things may be coming down to the wire. Then again I believe I had made similiar comments in the past. We will stay in Iraq at least to the first year term of a new POTUS in my judgement.
The continue talks about early troop pull out are simply not realistic. To much time, resources, and money have been spent on this venture. Not all demorats and republicans think along a party line. And for sure many demorats have not caved in to pressures from the anti war gang. And I don't think they will for the next few years.
Those that continue to make comparisons with NAM do IMHO, miss one important point. Though the arguments over the years about vast oil fields in that country being a primary reason for Johnson to want to stay in NAM, the fact remains, that they where un-proven claims (how much oil might be available).
In the case with Iraq. It is a far different scenario. The huge proven oil fields are available and needed by many nations. And obviously the split between those Mid East countries as to the need for us to stay in Iraq as a stabilizer (Saudi surely do not want us to leave), means we must stay. If we leave, then the Ruskies and Chicoms move in.
The morons like Pelosi, Turban etc., may put on a good show for public consumption, but I hardly think many representatives and senators really believe we can just leave Iraq without extremly dire ramifications.
The show will go on.

[bvw]

The war in the Horn of Africa shows something about the war in Iraq. There's no oil or other valuable resources in the Horn (excepting frankicense, afaik).

In Iraq the civil strife is fueled by oil. Saudi Oil on one side, Iranian on the other.

[GladesGuru]

As is said in the summer camp industry "It's butt kicking time at Mt. Didy".

;-)

[popdonnelly]

These two general officers sound like excelllent choices.

[StoneWall Brigade]

Is this a good move?

[OldFriend]

The surge in violence in Iraq was deliberately designed to affect our mid term elections.

Thank you craven Americans.

[gcruse]

Then make John Bolton Iraqi ambassador. That'll speed things up in Baghdad.

[WOSG]

"The BBC's Justin Webb in Washington says there could be perhaps as many as 18,000 extra troops, a policy that is likely to bring gasps of disbelief from many of the president's supporters."

Um, only in that I was expecting more like 30,000 to 40,000.

I wont believe it until I hear Bush say it, but by gum Bush is TRYING TO WIN IN IRAQ - after a bad year in Iraq, what a novel concept... "Bush, you Magnificent Bastard, you've outflanked them all!".

[EricT.]

If we still had men like this, we would have won and gone home years ago.

[Finalapproach29er]

Musical chairs so that everybody has to go back to square one?

It doesn't look good.