'The day nobody died ...' Part II
Jules was also wandering around U.K.-land yesterday, coming up with this piece that notes improvements in Iraq but cautions against overoptimism. ... Remember the purple fingers, the constitution, the capture of Saddam, the killing of top al-Qaeda leaders, all the happy-talk in general that accompanied any positive news over the years, despite the overall worsening conditions as Rummy fiddled and dashed off snowflakes, etc. That's why I'm not getting too excited right now. I think 'victory' as originally envisioned has long since passed. Iraq is an armed camp -- and I find it hard to believe Muqtada al-Sadr and Sunni leaders will be singing Kumbaya around campfires anytime soon. What Gen. Petraeus is giving us right now is breathing room. Whether it lasts, no one really knows. I doubt it will, knowing Iraq's pathologies. But we got the breathing room to do something. I just don't know what. Keep the surge going indefinitely? Nope. Can't do. Withdraw all troops now? Nope. Could do. But won't do because of non-Kumbaya reasons mentioned above. ... We're going to have to keep winging it -- but at least we now have a competent commander who's winging it. ...  ¶ 6:46 AM