Declaring Victory and Pretending to Get Out

The LA Times reports the Bush Administration's new pretend to be cutting without running policy.

Even as debate over the Iraq war continues to rage, signs are emerging of a convergence of opinion on how the Bush administration might begin to exit the conflict.

In a departure from previous statements, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said this week that the training of Iraqi soldiers had advanced so far that the current number of U.S. troops in the country probably would not be needed much longer.

This, of course, is the type of complete bullshit we have been getting from the Bush Administration for three years on this mess. In September the Pentagon brass said just 700 soldiers were ready. Now the White House denies that number as being too "reality-based" I guess.

This is going to be the kabuki dance of 2006, the Bush Administration's preparation of declaring victory and going home, without ever actually going home.

The situation in Iraq is worse than ever, we haven't fixed it; we can't fix it. But to admit that, C Plus Augustus would have to admit reality sucks, and he's a failure. So, naturally, more people must die.