The Way Forward: Escalate, Then Figure Out a Mission

[Stevendsmith]

This is precisely what's happening. Matthew Yglesias slammed it home for me:

It's not that the president has some policy initiative in mind whose operational requirements dictate a surge in force levels. Rather, locked in the prison of his own denial he came to the conclusion that he should back an escalation, prompting the current search for a mission.

http://atrios.blogspot.com/2006_12_24_atrios_archive.html#116733990993947909.

Speechless.

[newscott]

1. Doomed to repeat history.

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

2. It's a political move. More troops for us to "support".

We all know the drill. Our "heroic troops" sent to fight for "our freedoms" and prevent "terra here by fighting it there", etc, etc, ad nauseum.

Don't worry, be happy.

[Stevendsmith]

6. Magnetic yellow ribbon fodder. Nice. (n/t)

[annabanana]

3. This sounds about right.

It's certainly within character, and just about his speed.

[Wiley50]

4. Pre- Placing Reinforcements Before Striking Iran

The Iraqi Shia are gonna hit them hard when that happens.

[Stevendsmith]

5. Lovely (n/t)

[bigtree]

7. now the logic is to solve Iraq through regime change in Iran

worked so well in Iraq . . .

[Stevendsmith]

8. Is military action against Iran really a possibility?

Of course, I put nothing past these lunatics, but I just can't conceive of this really happening. I think they'd put Bush in a straight jacket first.