Pictures, sir, pictures. The world does not have time for your nice definitions and punctilious concerns about whether I have misused the phrase bugging out. The world sees pictures of tanks backing up and Marines removing wire. The world sees the Marines bugging out, not repositioning . The next set of pictures shows a beretted Bathist general graciously acknowledging the cheers of the citizens of Fallujah. We just lost a battle in the picture war and the world is not stopping to read your dictionary Reality, sir, reality.
It is better to win a real battle in a real battlefield in the Real World than to win a "Picture" battle in the news media of a European Continent that lost it's manhood in 1945.
The ruse de guerre has been used since the dawn of war: From Hannibal at The Battle of Trasimeno to the Normandy Invasion.
If Germany and the rest of Europe have forgotten the Art of War while enjoying the benefits of the Pax Americana these last 59 years, that matters as much as which tree my dog decides to relieve his bladder on tomorrow morning.
The only thing that matters is who is victorious when the battle is over.
In regards to Iraq, Germany's opinion matters as much as the opinion of my 13 year old daughter.
Reality, sir, reality.
It is better to win a real battle in a real battlefield in the Real World
What real victory? What battlefield? This is not D Day, this is Tora Bora.
Meanwhile, you cannot fight the greater war on terrorism and exterminate the terrorists before they destroy Cleveland without the help of Europe. If you cannot get Europe to help because it is right, then get them to help because we are meanest mothers in the valley.
Right now the pictures make us look like il Duce conducting an Italian ground campaign and not a force which must be accomodated. Even your 13 year old daughter can look at the pictures and tell the difference.