Reply #8: The surge's strategic aim was to provide enough security to

[coalition_unwilling]

allow for political reconciliation. While opinions differ on whether the security situation has actually improved -- I happen to believe these month-over-month metrics are not a reliable indicator of the security situation -- almost everyne agrees that there has been almost no political reconciliation. In other words, Sunnis still hate Shia'a and vice versa.

If the surge truly were working, it would be possible to bring back all of the 30,000 troops used for the surge and more. In fact, the most recent reports indicate that even after the limited troops withdrawals are completed, U.S. troop strength inside Iraq will be at some 140,000. In other words, 10,000 more soldiers than before the surge started will remain in Iraq.

Only by the most twisted reasoning, then, can anyone including McInsane say the surge is "working". Obama should be able to wrap Iraq around McInsane's neck like an albatross (no disrespect to albatrosses). With public opinion showing that 55-60% of Americans now think the invasion\occupation of Iraq a 'mistake' and with upwards of 70% indicating that they want troops home yesterday, it should be a Dem landslide of FDR '32 and LBJ '64 proportions.