More Bush-whacking

A WaPo op-ed critical of the war, the administration, and our non-existent "exit strategy."

Not an original observation on my part, but I think it is worth mentioning that our (the American public) suffering of this administration is being exacerbated by the lack of a Vice President with presidential aspirations. The Bush White House has nothing to play for but their own ego and hubris. They have long operated independent of the Republican Party (merely bullying them into acquiescence when they wanted their legislation passed) and do not currently have a "senior administration official" seeking higher office in the future.

There is no accountability for them because Cheney and Bush won't be around in future elections to face public scrutiny (job approval ratings don't mean shit if you're not running a campaign), Rove operates behind the curtain free to do just about anything, and the Administration has so far appeared ambivalent to Republicans losing seats in the '06 mid-terms. It's a frightening situation when a man can play as if he has nothing to lose...except thousands of American lives not his own.

I do believe that it would be reckless and irresponsible for the US to immediately pull troops out of Iraq. We never should have been there but the reality is that we're there now and we've made a big mess. Neo-cons' concerns that an immediate pull-out would lead to a power vacuum followed by massive civil violence are valid. But for the President and the Secretary of State to basically tell us that "we'll leave when the job is done" is an insult and a dodge.