Donald Sensing, on the absurd mental gymnastics that Democrats must perform to want to end a war that doesn’t exist. As he says, one side can start a war, but it takes both to end it. And Al Qaeda, either in Afghanistan or Iraq, isn’t ready to quit. Particularly when, based on the actions of the Dems, they think they’re winning.

Lee Smith says that the Democrats are waging a proxie war against the Bush administration–in the Middle East, many of whom refuse to believe that we’re at war (simultaneously while thinking that we should end the war that we’re not in–talk about cognitive dissonance). I think that’s exactly what’s happening, even if they don’t realize it themselves.

I wrote earlier this morning that whatever I (and a lot of other people) voted for last fall, it wasn’t surrender. Here’s an interesting approach to the war, that seems beyond the Democrats. We win, they lose. Go sign the petition.

Why Congress should support the “surge”:

It

Why Congress should support the “surge”:

It

Why Congress should support the “surge”:

It

Which is to say, good news from Iraq.

In addition to showing real progress (Sunnis killing Al Qaeda), it also undermines the mantra that Saddam had nothing to do with Al Qaeda, since he had been there pre-removal of Saddam.

[Update a few minutes later]

K-Lo questions the timing:

…how long can it take for Rove-planned-it for a veto-backdrop story theories?

Rich Lowry has read his book. So, with an even more devastating review, has Christopher Hitchens. In a rational and well-read world, he wouldn’t be being lionized by the media. But in the real, Bush-deranged world, he probably will continue to be.

…of Israel’s war last summer against Hezbollah:

When war erupted in summer 2006, Israel enjoyed overwhelming military superiority and favorable political conditions. However, its strategic follies and operational deficiencies resulted in a faltering, indecisive war. The Israeli military could have administered a serious blow to Hezbollah from the air during the first few days of the war or, alternatively, destroyed most of Hezbollah’s military presence in southern Lebanon with a large land invasion. Unfortunately, Israel’s political and military leadership had no clear concept of what victory over Hezbollah entailed.

Israel squandered an important opportunity to settle regional scores. It left unchecked Iran’s apparent efforts to expand Shi

A view of Iraq’s future. From Basra:

It seems that ever since Britain and Denmark announced their intention to withdraw, the security situation has deteriorated. Troops from both countries now come under fire from the Shi’ite militias vying for power.

This is what happens when abandoning an area with a weak security apparatus in place. Now that the Brits and Danes have given the people of Basra a drop-dead date for their withdrawal, they have set in motion a fight for power that will only amplify as the withdrawal date approaches. Instead of throwing in with the central government, the flight of the Coalition has convinced Iraqis in that area that they have to find the strongest warlord for protection.

We can expect this across the country if the US withdraws precipitately from Iraq. A pullout will embolden the violent and frighten the law-abiding, and the end result will be a completely failed state.

[Late afternoon update]

A plea from Iraq.