I think it’s a little early to call the Bush strategy a failure. The truth is, nobody but Bush and a few Generals at the Pentagon know the plan...And it is clear that less than 1 week in to the conflict and we already control huge strategic areas of Iraq.

Don't forget there is a Korean problem right now that requires that we "reserve" some of our forces for that contingency. We can’t throw everything we have at Iraq.

In addition, we don't have nearly as many men and women in uniform as the Military budgets have been slashed and burned during the last 10+ years. So troop availability is a real consideration: We don't have unlimited military resources.

As for supply lines stretched thin...Well isn't that normal in a war zone?

Its pure speculation on my part, but it looks to me like the plan was to advance to near Baghdad until resistance and/or the Republican Guard were encountered: With the strategy being to pick away at Sadam’s most loyal armies until they collapse. Have you noticed that we got to within 50 miles of Baghdad in the first 3 days and we have been there ever since? I think this is a planned stall where the supply lines will be reinforced and built up: All while the Republican Guard will be pounded into near oblivion. (Again...Pure speculation) but its my guess that we are just probing them for strength/weakness, and in the meantime taking shots at every target of opportunity that shows itself. In short, the speedy advance toward Baghdad might have been a ruse. Making the entire supply line argument a moot point at worst, and a clever disinformation campaign at best.

As for waiting another month...It’s clear that with the weather and other conditions are changing daily as summer approaches, waiting another month would have made failure more not less likely.

An additional factor for your consideration is that many of our ships have been gone from port for 7-8 months, as the UN has stalled and stalled and stalled. Those ships cannot sustain an active alert status for ever...They do need maintenance...Not to mention that the crew's families deserve to have their loved ones home occasionally.

One final thing, don't forget that the doomsayers were preaching disaster in Afghanistan...Not enough bombs they said...Can't build supply lines to a land-locked country they said...Not enough ground troops they said...We would be an unwanted occupying force they said...Look out for the Arab street they said...Sound familiar

Scott