Very good points. People think this thing can be over in a couple of years, they are wrong. The only ones who seem to get it are the president (who is almost too ‘nice’ to realy do what has to be done), the military, and about half of the republicans in congress.
The rest don’t know, don’t care, are only looking out for their own short term political gain, or secretly or not-so secretly hope we get whacked because we’re so “evil”.
Almost?
The problem with playing nice in a representative republic is that it's not leadership. Like it or not, our country, and the war efforts we undertake, are what the people want them to be. Most people realize that we are winning. They just don't care. They don't care about fighting for a free and democratic Iraq. They do care about supporting a conflict they don't feel a stake in. Sure, we could keep fighting, they feel, but why? It's not worth the effort.
Absent any motivating force from our leaders guiding us towards a clearly defined victory and goals that benefit the people, the people will generally avoid war. Absent any reason to fear defeat, they people will happily pull their troops out of harms way. Distrust of their leaders' abilities or honesty will make the decision to favor withdrawl that much easier.
Too nice? Too nice is one way of putting it. Incomptent is another. President Bush simply wasn't up to the task of leading the American people into a long war. He listened to the wrong folks at the Pentagon and State, and lacks the rhetorical skill to keep the average American rallied behind a poorly managed war. Sure, the military and a few Republicans get it, but this ain't ancient Rome. Without the support of the citizens, you have no war.
Now the vultures of public opinion are circling, and picking apart the Republicans that can't keep up with the pack. You can decry vultures for being what they are, but vultures' gotta eat too. And they will feast for a long time on Iraq.
“The insurgency in Iraq is in the last throes.” Vice President Dick Cheney —May 2005