Rusted Sky

Where, when victory is immenent, that a decision one way or another can make a big difference in the bloodshed still to come.

In Iraq, it looks like the back of the 'resistance' formed by Mookie and his dead-end Mahdi Army has been broken. They've stood down over the latest push in Sadr City, and weapons caches are being dismantled and destroyed.

Iraqi Army dismantles Mahdi Army caches in Sadr City - The Long War Journal

The people of Iraq have turned away from the radicals, and are pushing hard to rebuild.

And we could throw it all away easily. All it would take would be for whoever gets elected this year to declare we lost, and pull out our people unilaterally. Oh, whoever does it will paint a pretty picture of how we're leaving the Iraqis sufficient support - but that support will be quietly wound back... and then disappear because of 'increased violence' as the jackals from Iran and Syria see their opportunities.

We've done it before. Should I play 'name the party' on this one?

It looks like we can definitely win. Should we? Will we?

J.