An inch or enough rope?

Reid: Brief troop increase OK in Iraq

WASHINGTON - The Senate's top Democrat offered qualified support Sunday for a plan to increase U.S. troops in Iraq, saying it would be acceptable as part of a broader strategy to bring combat forces home by 2008.

So what has Reid done here. There is no one who is not living in the neocon's cloud of delusion that thinks 20 to 50 thousand additional troops is going to make any difference, that includes Mr Reid and the likes of Colin Powell . If George W. Bush has decided to send additional troops to Iraq Mr Reid and the Democrats can't stop him.

So what is Mr Reid doing. Is he giving Bush an inch like some say? Is he giving Bush one last shot knowing full well it will fail? Is he giving Bush, McCain and the rest of the hawks enough rope to hang themselves and at the same time trying to mitigate the blame game win the war is eventually lost? I'm inclined to believe it's the latter. Was it the right thing to do? One of the few viable options on the table for Mr Reid and the Democrats? - Perhaps.

More Americans are going to die but that was going to happen anyway. If Bush decides to send more troops it can't be stopped. And make no mistake, it will be short term. They are not sending more troops they are making the ones who are already there stay longer and making those scheduled to go latter go sooner.