Save it for the rubes. While it isn't true for everyone, the fact that some people here, and certainly in America at large, are grabbing at every negative piece of news from Iraq like they'd found a Krugerrand on the road is obvious to everyone here. Lootings, civilian casualties, no WMD, etc. etc.

And we know the reasons for this constant pessimism, too. It may not be too late to destroy Bush's political career.

The editor of Salon has said in so many words that, while he's not sure, it may possibly have been worth thousands of additional Iraq and American deaths to insure that Bush did not get reelected. And he isn't alone.

The only difference now is that these people aren't kidding anybody any more.