more Iraq

i was thinking of combining the two posts about Iraq, but then i realized that this really does need it's own space. we already know that the Iraq war has not gone the way bush wish it did. the Pentagon is sending more troops to Iraq and keeping those that are due to come home there as well. and that is after pulling all troops from across Iraq back to Baghdad. this is hard news for families hoping their loved ones will return, and even worse news for those troops who have been stationed in Iraq for some time. and on the heels of this announcement, Iraqi Prime Minister al-Maliki asks the US to send not just troops but MORE MONEY using the tired rhetoric of how terrorism is against the world so we should stop it there (which obviously hasn't happened yet, and we've thrown BILLIONS down the drain trying).

the Washington Post gives us an updated view on what some soldiers are thinking about their morale levels. you really must read the article. i can't do it justice with my crappy rhetoric. but just to give you that nudge; the title of the article is: "Waiting to Get Blown Up"

if this is how our soldiers are thinking, then they need to get out of there. bush would like to believe that there is a tangible "enemy" to destroy, but it seems more and more that in this situation there is no 'cutting the head off the snake' to kill the movement. Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the Al Qaeda "leader" in Iraq was killed, and the violence rose instead of falling flat.

we are NOT winning the war. get that through your heads and come up with a plan to change (that's for Dems AND Republicans); "staying the course" can no longer be considered an option.