the scenario is a classical one: a vertically organized military cannot really cope with a horizontally organized enemy.
this is why i thought that the best analogy for this farce in iraq was the algerian war--and you are seeing many many parallels.
the one that is unique to this war in iraq is the magnitude of the fiasco.

the problem is that i expect those fine folk in congress will see this pipe dream as a face-saving one. it will be appealing because it will enable a period of manly assertion that will provide a figleaf for defeat. i do not see much difference in this regard separating the political organizations, the factions within the american oligarchy. and i do not expect a sudden surge of coherence following from the midterms.
what i do expect is a rapid acceleration of "insurgent" action in iraq between now and january.


and if things move in a straight line, what i think the americans are facing in iraq is military defeat.

for what exactly?

If we have installed a "democracy" and we are not occupiers in Iraq, then the first question on the ballot of a voting Iraq should be, "Should the United States stay another year, or should we go?"