Cut And Run

From The Observer (UK):

Colin Powell, who warned President Bush on the eve of the Iraq war that US forces would have to stay for the long haul after toppling Saddam, yesterday predicted that troop withdrawals would begin by the end of this year...

The 'stay the course' rhetoric has again been revealed for what we knew it was all along- a shallow and purely political move to stop the Democrats from putting forth their withdrawal proposal... so that the Republicans could enact theirs. And just in time for the '06 election cycle too!

As I noted last month, "President Bush will not predicate our departure upon the Iraqis or when his generals (who he doesn't listen to anyway) say so. That decision is/was always going to be made when it's politically convenient for Bush. If his approval ratings hit 30%, or the Republicans look like they might lose the '06 elections, expect to see convoys of returning troops on every TV station."

Oh, let's not forget that whole 'rebuilding Iraq' plan has been scrapped. Thanks for having us over, Iraq! Sorry about the mess!