The Beginning of the End in Iraq?

President Bush today announced the circling of the wagons in Iraq.

Given the chaos in Baghdad, it was only a question of time before more troops would be needed to patrol that city. Only problem is we've got no troops to put in. Oh, I'm sure that more troops could be rotated in from other countries, more national guard called up, recruitment standards lowered further. But I suspect a more sinister, more cynical reason for today's new plan to calm Baghdad -

George Bush is unwilling to commit more troops because he is afraid it will be the death knell to republicans in the fall election.

Can there be any other reason? Is the rest of Iraq calm? Will pulling troops back into Baghdad result in the places from which they are removed more or less safe?

More to the point, won't circling the wagons around Baghdad signal the insurgents in Iraq that they are winning? George W. has time and time and time and again refused to present a plan or strategic timetable or even clear objectives for troop withdrawals because, he said, that would give aid and comfort to the enemy. He said it would encourage the insurgents.

And now it is Bush who is circling wagons - that says "cut and run" to me far more than anything that the Democrats (even John Kerry) had proposed. Pulling our troops back to the capital city, which should have been one of the safe ones, instead of sending reinforcements (or admit they need reinforcements). . . Can anyone read this news and not envision helicoptors circling the American embassy in Hanoi, desperate refugees spilling over the sides against a setting sun?

Now mind you, I've been against this war from the very beginning. I'm not saying I want the president to commit more troops. I want the troops home. I want them home now. Yesterday. But Bush has bungled this war as badly as he bungled every private company he owned or directed before getting into politics (trading Sammy Sosa, sheesh). He's made the situation so bad I no longer am sure whether it is worse to leave our troops there and send in more, or to pull them out now.

But Bush these days looks more and more like a dog with his tail between his legs, cowering in the corner because he pissed the rug again. I wonder whether even he believes his own rhetoric anymore?

Is he going to give up in Iraq? There are still two years to his administration. Who knows.

But I know this. By failing to reinforce our troops at this juncture, by pulling troops back to Iraq, by encouraging the insurgency, George W. is putting more troops in greater harm's way - sacrificing them to try and save a few republican congressional seats in the fall.

And that is just plain murder.