Some possible lessons learned about the Iraq debacle...

[Postman]

It's inevitable that Iraq is a defeat for the neo-cons, Bush and the United States.

The planning for Iraq was extensive - the only problem was the Bush administration had their own ideas on how to do things (see James Fallows "Blind into Baghdad")

However, even in the face of defeat, "democracy" at home may have been re-born. After the Iraq debacle, Congress might be more hesitant to relinquish its authority to declare war to one man.

There might be a period of introspection of the corporate media. People may ask - why were the American people so badly informed on such a critical issue? - and come to the realization that freedom, liberty and democracy rests with the freedom of the press that "informs" instead of "entertains" and will look to alternative sources of information.

The fraud of the rightwing spin machine (Limbaugh, Hannity, Savage etc..) will crash and burn as the fuel for their hot-air balloon (i.e. Lies) explodes when it mixes with reality.

The American people will become LESS trusting of their gov't - as they should be. Democracy is a form of government that is based on mis-trust of the gov't, to hold their feet to the fire when making claims about anything.

[physioex]

1. It was but 30 some...

Odd years when we had a similar debacle called Vietnam. No they aren't exactly the same, but the similarities are there. What a bunch of dopes, this is what you get when you put Chickenhawks in charge. We as citizens must also take a bit of the blame for being soo passive. And it's time to interject another party who has a majority in at-least one of our three branches.

[Cleita]

2. Your optimism is refreshing.

However, this administration had thrown us back sixty years. I hope the youth who rebuild from this, put in the fail safes that will prevent a repeat of what I guess we failed to do.

[physioex]

3. I have to agree.....

I don't think there will ever be a day when people like El Drugbo, Hannity, and O' Lielly aren't lurking. Look what happened to the Germans when they lost their guard. And that is also fairly recent history.