"His success appears to have been down to a combination of less aggressive military tactics than others employed and a very aggressive effort to win over the locals.

"If the rest of the US military had adopted this "hearts and minds" approach, his supporters say, Iraq would not be in the mess it is today."

The only possible way to "win" in Iraq is through "hearts and minds". "Winning" will only come if the Iraqis "win", if they support the government and reject the insurgents.

Bush, though, has an unbroken record of being wrong on Iraq. And as he's wrong, over and over, the situation has gotten worse. And worse.

Arf