US Military Dead during Iraq War 1020

This is the definition of quagmire- no acceptable way out. The GOP put us in this situation, I think they have to put up or shut up. The only fast way out of Iraq short of dropping the ball and leaving is to put the screws to the insurgents- which will require a mbuttive upgrade in the level of force & we make our occupation intimidating enough that no-one can make the first move without getting shot. Which is not an appealing solution either, because as soon as we publicize the Pax Americana and leave "Mission Actually Accomplished", then the locals can and will buttert themselves. The powerful elements of the Iraqi people will have their government their way when we pull out, regardless of when we do it. I don't fear the civil war & religious dictatorship as such, they're pretty much a given as far as I can see, I fear us being stuck over there because we're too afraid to leave.

If we're so lamentably short of military personnel, then why the hell do we not have a draft? Thats what its for. To hear Dubya put it, we're in the middle of a national security crisis, our very way of life hanging in the balance, is there some better time to start the draft? Clearly the GOP would rather have US soldiers die than pay the political price for properly staffing this war.

My guess is rather than trying to fix the problem, the GOP's fallback position is to keep it the way it is till they're out of power and the next administration has to take the fall for getting us out. OTOH, 3 more years of car-plants, rest and a military stretched thinner and thinner is going to be a long hard road for them.

Gregm