"It is good that you put "war" in quotes. Because it has all been the war." - So says Jack The Sailor.

What was that dit about Barry Goldwater when asked about how he would deal with the Vietnam problem? His repsponse:

"Vietnam Problem?? Hell five minutes after I get into office there won't be no Vietnam problem because there won't be no Vietnam!!"

"War" Jack The Sailor? If the USA was actually at war with any other nation on this planet it would be over in less than 48 hours.

For some who believe such as is currently being peddled by an extremely biased MSM, the US Armed Forces are overstretched and near breaking point - you have less than 17% of your armed forces deployed - You are at War in two countries??? - You are "occupying" two countries??? - I somehow do not think so.

"The hard part is putting the Shiites in a position where they have to deal with the Kurds and Arabic speaking Sunnis." - JTS

Care to explain which particular Iraqi Shiites you are talking about JTS the Iraqi Arab Shiites or the Iraqi Kurdish Shiites?

Sadr and his Mehdi Army are no problem as he wants to be involved in the forthcoming political process and he has been told what he must do to make that happen. Al-Sistani will tell him what he has to do and Sadr will obey - just like he did before, because he knows that if he goes against the old man he'll lose everything, and there's not an Iranian standing that could save him.