The Last Big Push at the End of the Tunnel

Even with Rumsfeld headed for boot-hill, Bush seems hell-bent on hanging tough on Iraq. Although "Staying the Course" is now politically off the agenda, it has been replaced with a new catch-phrase, "Last Big Push". (For those of us who can remember Vietnam, the phrase is chillingly reminiscent of "Light at the End of the Tunnel".)

According to this story in the Guardian, instead of planning for a US withdrawal from Iraq, Bush wants to send 20,000 extra troops there, the idea being that the extra forces will secure Baghdad, thereby allowing other US and Iraqi forces to be deployed elsewhere throughout the country.

This plan has two major flaws.

Firstly, it is highly debatable that even 20,000 troops could bring Baghdad under control. All the King's horses etc.

Secondly, they don't have 20,000 troops to spare.

Speaking before a Senate hearing in Washington, Army Gen. John P. Abizaid, head of U.S. Central Command admitted as much:

"Abizaid added that, even if it were in Iraq's best interest to increase the presence of U.S. forces, it would be difficult for the Pentagon to find additional combat troops without increasing the size of the active-duty military."