bgates, I admire your steadfast adherence to American ideals. I’m more pragmatic.
It’s true that despite the French’s egalitarian ideals, they love power (especially during the colonial era).
If it takes going all out, imposing a state of auterity, reintroducing the draft, raising taxes and sending all the troops necessary to secure and pacify Iraq, I’m all for it. I’m willing to put in my share of the cost. However, I don’t think that the president will call for that. I don’t think that the public would accept such sacrifice unless Bush came up with some more convincing arguments. So far the president has not asked for any sacrifice to support the Iraq war.
Muddling through won’t work. Sending reinforcements here and there will only be throwing goods men after good men. Asking Iran and Syria to help won’t work either because they are already signaling they aren’t that willing to help.
Failing a winning strategy, it’s time to find a face-saving way out.
