What I'm saying, right now anyway, is this country should do whatever it has to in order to get the hell out of Iraq or pacify it. I'm saying that the half-measures perpetrated upon the men and women of the American Armed Forces is tragic.

(Does this remind anyone of the 'Nam.)

That may mean getting the hell out. Fast.

That may mean increasing the forces drastically so that the country can be brought under control, so that Halliburton, Bechtel, et al. can complete their looting, and then get the hell out. At least fewer folks on both sides would be killed.

Or, change the mission so that it CAN be accomplished with the number there.

But the way Rumsfeld is going about it, with a force too small for the mission, is selling out the troops. And the American public, and the Iraqis.

And it's all political. While not wanting to create an image of another Vietnam, they are creating the reality of another Vietnam. Substitute sand for mud, and you've got it. And the US is stuck in it. The US may deserve it, but those Americans over there don't.

And I really don't think anyone can deny that. Not with a straight face.

Arf