"Bruce, this is not an Obama-McCain debate thread, OK? And neither of them are "candidates" anymore. "

I was noting that the troop expansion BY OBAMA was known BEFORE the election (see the dates on my quotes), and the comments

"It would require hundreds of thousands of troops (cf. Iraq) to hold the place -- and require the taking over of parts of Pakistan by American troops -- is Obama really going to do this? The whole thing is absurd.
"

were answered by the election.