Yet Again Into the Breech

The news is sounding increasingly like more American troops are heading to Iraq. The conventional wisdom consensus is that BushCheney wants to surge into Iraq. Just for a little while. Till we get a handle on security. So far, the biggest obstacle (not counting the American people who want just the opposite) has been the generals who are hesitant to send additional forces. The LA Times reports today that the generals now agree on the need for more troops.

The generals--the ones on the ground in Iraq, at least--are recommending a surge of additional forces to Iraq. The recommendation is a change for the Iraq commanders, who have been up to now skeptical of the need and utility of more troops. The Joint Chiefs remain uncertain but they are not in the chain of command. It looks like BushCheney won't have to overrule his generals to get what he wants. He's got cover.

So up to 20,000 more Americans will surge into Iraq to do something. You see, they haven't quite figured out what the surging troops will do. They might fight Moqtada al-Sadr in the Baghdad slum that bears his family name, they might go after the Sunni insurgents. One thing for sure, they will die along with many Iraqis. I know that for sure and I am pretty certain that the situation will show no real improvement for their sacrifices.

Deciding on force levels before you've determined the mission seems ass backward to me. What has been decided is that America will dig further into Iraq, the November 7 election and widespread public oppostion notwithstanding. I don't know what convinced the generals to change their thinking but they have made a Devil's pact. Now they are responsible for making the surge succeed or they, not BushCheney, will be repsonsible for failure. Notice that the article discusses political issues at length and you will understand why additional military force is unlikely to succeed.

The listening tour and grand deliberations are merely the window dressing for more of the same. Staying the Course.

[Update at 22 Dec 8:23 MST] BarbinMD puts it all together over at DailyKos. I seem to be locked out of the comment section or I would add something about the reincarnation of William Westmoreland.