The quagmire in Iraq

Some interesting facts here:

- Iraqi President Talabani says that Iraqi troops will be ready to "stand up" by the end of next year. Ironic, isn't it, that he made a similar claim... two years ago?!

- Government officials are beginning to openly discuss maintaining a military presence in Iraq for decades to come - much like the presence we still have in South Korea. This blatantly disregards the fact that the war spending bill Congress recently passed has provisions that prohibit the Bush administration from spending money in such a fashion. Signing statements, anyone?

- Retired Army Lt. Gen. Ricardo Sanchez - who ran the first year or so of the Iraq occupation - has added his voice to the chorus of retired military commanders saying both that there is no chance for "victory" in Iraq, and that there is a "crisis of leadership" that runs through the government and the US military.