No exit?

It appears that the Bushies are beginning to realize the equation of "Iraq + 2006 = Democratic Congress." Their solution, though, is almost as frightening as the problem. According to Seymour Hersh, the administration is planning on drawing down ground troops AND putting the U.S. Air Force, in an OFFENSIVE capacity, at the disposal of Iraqi commanders, as a way of reducing the number of US troops on the ground.

Just think, placing the power of the U.S. Air Force at the beck and call of Shi'a fundamentalists! What a great idea!

You can see their little minds at work here though. They are skittering around, like a poodle on linoleum, trying to salvage what they can of what was a ridiculous idea from the inception. The goal of this little misadventure was never WMD, and in many ways, it even wasn't regime change and money, although those were wonderful side benefits to the neocon mind. No, the goal was the Pax Americana, Middle East version 2.0. The neocons wanted to control Iraq, through the friendly intermediary of a puppet like Chalabi, or even through direct occupation. An American Iraq could cow Iran, threaten Syria, and make life easy for Israel as the fundies waited for the rapture.

Unfortunately, reality happened. The Shi'as weren't going to accept even one of their own as an American stooge, the Sunnis, whose numbers included most of Saddam's former officers, soldiers and operatives, have put up a deadly resistance and Pax Americana has turned into Pox Americana. So they need a way out, and they need it quickly. Notice how every time Condi has opened her mouth recently, another 10,000 "Iraqi troops" have been miraculously "trained" and "drawdown" is the word of the day.

Be afraid, be very very afraid.