It's the ownership society, baby. Every American owns .0021 dead Iraqi, and the interest is compounding.

The "investment" strategy explained:

In the bigger game of democratic politics, the dollar auction scenario has a particularly dangerous power. Politicians fear that voters will unfairly punish the realist who cuts off the escalation early, in the process also clearly "losing" the ever-diminishing prize. And maybe, just maybe, the appearance of a "win," even at an astounding price, will give some fig-leaf of coverage to the monumental stupidity of getting the United States of America mired in a this kind of situation to begin with.

The administration's goal is keeping the electorate pacified and the game in motion. Emphasize the cost already paid and the further cost of throwing in the towel. Promise that the other side is showing signs of exhaustion — remember Dick Cheney and the few "dead-enders?" Like the man riding the tiger, Bush and company believe they are OK so long as they don't fall off. If the regular dollar auction is irrationality in action, U.S. politics make our Iraq policy irrationality on steroids.

So, he's laying it off on the military, and more specifically the troops? If they do their job they get to come home?

What exactly is their job? Isn't that supposed to be defined by civilian political leadership? Who would that be? Oh, wait...

You mean, like, maybe there could be some diplomatic role? With allies we could assemble--let's call it, say, the "coalition of the willing"--and negotiate some kind of "shared sacrifice" with them, the U.N., and all our friends (left) in the Gulf region?? Sounds kinda crazy!!

Bush, after having hi-jacked the army to Iraq, now negotiates with the
Americans for its return.

Just think, in no time we will be negotiating with President Hillary Clinton over the same issue--how much do you want to bet?

If so, it will be because she gets mired in the quagmire W made. Once you're already in, I have at least some sympathy for not being able to get out. It may take some sort of "super genius" to do that. The GOP's best and brightest, their new Reagan, was the idiot who drove us directly into this mess, though. Don't let anyone forget that.