A Victory That Isn't

Americans know they can rely on Chimpie. He is a man of conviction, setting a straight consistent course – regardless of circumstances. He's “A Decider”, a man of action, a man's man, he's possessed of clear vision and certitude. He's doing God's work. The world is simple – set a direction and go. Why don't people see it like he does?

Victory in Iraq was so clear:

Mr Bush refused to set an "artificial deadline" to withdraw US troops, saying it was "not a plan for victory". Mr Bush said victory would come "when the terrorists and Saddamists can no longer threaten Iraq's democracy, when the Iraqi security forces can provide for the safety of their own citizens, and when Iraq is not a safe-haven for terrorists to plot new attacks on our nation"....."America will not run in the face of car bombers and assassins so long as I am your commander-in-chief," he said. "No war has ever been won on a timetable - and neither will this one,"......

Ooops. Guess that one didn't work out too well:

An old word is gaining new currency in Washington: containment.....Containment of Iraq’s low-level civil war, which shows every sign of persisting for years......Containment of Iran’s nuclear power, which may lead to a missile defense system in Europe. Containment of the Islamism revived by Hamas and Hizbullah, by the Sunni suicide bombers in Iraq.......

.......Indeed, few people in the Bush administration will even concede they are thinking in such terms, because the president has not permitted an honest reckoning of the difficulties he faces. On Monday, Bush again appeared to sidestep the realities, calling the new “free Iraq” “a devastating defeat for the terrorists.” Back in Iraq, however, it was just another typical day: some 20 Iraqis died in bombings and drive-by shootings, with few or no arrests.

So today’s containment is a furtive policy being developed willy-nilly behind the scenes, as Bush’s pragmatic second-term officials seek to clean up the vast Mideast mess left by the ideologues who dominated in the first term

So the very best that can be hoped for in Iraq, probably for many years to come, will be a non-bloodbath, a low-level civil war that doesn’t get worse than the current cycle of insurgent killings and Shiite death-squad reprisals.....

The U.S. military is already gearing up for this outcome, but not for “victory” any longer. It is consolidating to several “superbases” in hopes that its continued presence will prevent Iraq from succumbing to full-flown civil war and turning into a failed state.

Whoever becomes the next president will inherit most of these problems.....

Typical fun frat boy games – create a huge mess – get someone else to clean it up.
Posted on The Human Stain