From: John Cuccia 

On Thu, 16 Nov 2006 11:12:19 -0000, "Phil Payne"
 wrote:

>I'm reminded of Shirer's accounts of Hitler directing non-existent divisions
>to the defence of Berlin.  All alone in his madness.

The US commander in Iraq Gen. John Abizaid doubts that additional troops
would provide any long-term benefit, even if said troops existed.  Maybe
the general feels that he can speak more freely now that Rumsfeld and his
crackpot ideas for running the military more like a business are gone.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-ex-iraq111506,0,153083.story?c
oll=la-home-headlines
Abizaid conceded that sending 20,000 additional troops into Iraq might
temporarily quell violence, but he said it also would upset American
efforts to get the Iraqi government to take more responsibility for the
country's internal security.

Abizaid added that, even if it were in Iraq's best interest to increase the
presence of U.S. forces, it would be difficult for the Pentagon to find
additional combat troops without increasing the size of the active-duty
military.

>Long term, there's a serious issue for American democracy - there is far too
>much power concentrated in one man.

I think Congress will rein him in, bipartisanly.  There are very few
Republicans in Congress who want Iraq on the table as a political issue
during the runup to the 2008 presidential election.

--- BBBS/NT v4.01 Flag-5