From someone who seems to have almost unlimited access to Petraeus and other main players. I've read "Fiasco", do not recommend it to Conservatives.

“I think there are a lot of reasons Iraq ’09 is going to be very tough and in fact harder than the last year of Bush’s war,” he (Ricks) told guest moderator John Dickerson. “And I think there is a good chance that Obama’s war in Iraq will last longer than Bush’s war [in Iraq].”

"The author of "Fiasco" is out with a new book about the U.S. experience in Iraq during last two years of the Bush administration titled, "The Gamble: General Petraeus And The American Military Adventure In Iraq 2006-2008."

The Sunni's were being paid $30,000,000 a month by Petraeus to stop fighting. They are still in place, only richer, and the issues still remain. Since the surge was intended to by time for a political reconcilliation and that hasn't happened, the surge failed.

Ricks says that elections tend to destabilize Iraq, as they produce weak leadership and nothing will change there until a strongman takes over.

Interview Here.

Krygyzstan is holding out for more rent for a key air base. Pakistan is a grave problem and very, very close to collapsing. She has 200 nukes in Muslim hands. The Taliban and al-Qaeda (that organization run by Osama (Wanted Dead or Alive) bin Laden is gaining influence in both Pakistan and Afghanistan.

And Russia is allowing the US to transit troops and materiel through her territory. Any thoughts as to why Russia would want to keep the US in Afghanistan?

Just like the Energizer Bunny, the Bush Legacy keeps on going and going and going and - - - .

Arf