1115.org

With the decisive ideological struggle of the 21st century entering a critical phase, with time quickly running out on the prospect of the good guys winning the defining good-versus-evil battle of our lifetimes, the President seems to be strangely relaxed and laid back. Strangely cocky. Almost as if somone’s done the math for him, and told how it’s gotta turn out.

Our top Iraq general says that “the vicious sectarian violence in Baghdad would surge out of control within four to six months unless immediate steps were taken”. But our President is in no particular hurry to decide what to do next:

I haven’t made any decisions about troop increases or troop decreases and won’t until I hear from a variety of sources…

Aah, government! Committees must run their course. Reports, once commissioned, must be produced, then submitted, then evaluated, then reconciled with each other. And, at some point, of course – oh yes, absolutely – actioned.

James Baker’s study group is still five or six weeks away from submitting its report. Hopefully, all the other sources will have weighed in by then. With any luck, deciding what to do will take only two or three weeks at that point. Putting it into effect, maybe another week or two.

So practically half of Gen. Abizaid’s critical four-to-six months will have ticked away before Bush yawns and climbs out of bed, and says: “Some may say I overslept, but there’s nothing like a good night’s sleep. Now where was I?”

This what’s-the-hurry, why-me-worry attitude doesn’t make much sense for a President who believes his own rhetoric, who’s convinced that we still have a chance to sieze victory. Of course, if he knows fully well that the victory boat sailed a long time ago, and without us on board, that’s an entirely different matter.