As the year 2007 draws to a close it seems as though the country has been marking time; just waiting out the present administration. The Democrats have been unable to bring the war to a close or the troops home, as they had pledged, The ability of the President to hold his ground, with the help of enough Republicans in Congress, has been a frustrating exercise in futility for those hoping to cease the death toll of our troops from rising. Despite a slower rate of fatalities the number continues to increase. Each day seems to bring out new revelations of wrong doing in this administration. Fortunately the courts have reversed many of the Bush claims to "executive privilege". The secrecy of the last seven years is a sure sign of covering mismanagement. The latest revelation shows that the present improvement in the Iraq situation is due primarily to the implimentation of a strategy that had been submitted as long as three years ago. Both Cheney and Rumsfeld brushed it aside preferring to insist that the war was a short term affair and not worth the time and effort. Instead of listening to those who felt "intelligence" was the key to slowing the IED deaths, that represent 60% or more of troop fatalities, billions were wasted on gimcrack attempts to foil the devices.

A recent book documents the influence Richard Pearle has had on the rationale for the Iraq adventure. He seems to be the source of most of the misinformation and misinformation givers that were used to justify the invasion. Intelligence in people is similar to electrical potential. If used properly it is a benefit to mankind. If it is applied incorrectly or intentionally misapplied it is a very destructive force. Bush, being the intellectual lightweight that he is, was a simple person, easily misled. Apparently considering himself a Messianic leader he was convinced that the vast American military should be used to bring Democracy to the Middle East. Some bright people like Thomas Friedman and David Brooks at first thought there was a chance it could be pulled off. What they could not know in advance was the astounding hubris and ineptitude of Rumsfeld and Cheney when it came to making critical decisions. The assumptions they made [proved the dictum - "to assume makes an ass of u and me"].
Disregarding high level military and civilian opinions to the contrary, and manufacturing "information" to support their preconceived decisions, they barged ahead, unfortunately with the approval of an impotent Congress. Thus we have been stuck in a morass for the past five years.

The present Congress, drastically changed, but not enough, has not shown much improvement in its ability to rein in the executive office. What is blatantly obvious is the slavish dependence politicians have on lobbyist's contributions and the effectiveness of money to buy votes. A sad state of affairs that does not show much promise of improvement in the foreseeable future. What it will take to correct this problem is not readily apparent. May we have a happier New Year than the past seven have been.