the real issue as I see it is not whether the Bush Admin. blew it prior to 911. It wasnt that easy to predict, and whatever blame there is regarding 911 is spread among everybody including previous administrations.

But the Iraq venture is Bushs own idea and project, and he and his team Rumsfeld, Cheney and Wolfowitz have been wrong everystep of the way - There were NO WMDS, they werent greeted as liberators with flowers (like in france in wwII - as both Cheney and WOlfowitz predicted) they were wildly inaccurate in terms of required troop strength needed to hold and secure Iraq once the major fighting is over) Remember Wolfowitz saying that SHinsekis troop requirement estimate is WILDLY off the mark. well..

now they are asking other countries to send troops, well if they dont need anymore American troops why would they need troops from other countries?

now they are heading for a 3month handover of power in Iraq. But when Bremer was asked the other day who they are handing the power over to, he said 'Thats a good question' (in my book thats a Bad Answer)

the June 3oth handover deadline is only there for election timing purposes, because whats going to happen afterwards if the IRaqi governing council wants to do something the US doesnt?
the fact is its time for Bush to lead, get out of the ranch,
fire some of those idiots in the pentagon who are hated by the military anyway, and try to build a real coalition of nations with the UN to help setup an elected govt in Iraq. But lets face it it aint gonna happen, because in times of opposition BUsh just digs in and it would be admitting an error.

the blame for allowing 911 to happen is nothing compared to being wrong about Iraq every step of the way, and even if Kerry is elected in Nov. the US will have to stay there for years to come, otherwise it will degenerate to a civil war, and provide a haven for terrorists as Afghanistan did.