Between the Wheels

On the 5th anniversary of Iraqi Freedom, I offer you lyrics from Rush, Between the Wheels:

Wheels can take you around
Wheels can cut you down
We can go from boom to bust
From dreams to a bowl of dust
We can fall from rockets' red glare
Down to "Brother can you spare..."
Another war
Another wasteland
And another lost generation

My support is waning, the mismanagement continues. The Surge, only a moderate success, seems to have missed the mark. My son will be leaving for Al Asad this Summer, and I am concerned. I want to win, but no one can tell me what winning means. Someone, anyone . . .

The President, is staying the course:

"No one would argue that this war has not come at a high cost in lives and treasure, but those costs are necessary when we consider the cost of a strategic victory for our enemies in Iraq.

This next part must have taken a case of WD40 to wheel the goal posts around

"The surge has done more than turn the situation in Iraq around; it has opened the door to a major strategic victory in the broader war on terror,"

The Key tenant of the Surge, based on what the President said a year ago, was to turn over Iraqi Security to the Iraqi's by November, LAST November. Last time I checked, he was barely half way to that goal. Recent reports indicate it is slow going:

Separated by tribal and regional differences, and a personality clash between top officers, the two branches of the Iraqi security forces have largely refused to coordinate their activities.

For the Marines, the situation is a major stumbling block toward their goal of turning security responsibility for Anbar province over to Iraqis as quickly as possible.

"This is our way out," said Col. Patrick Malay, commander of the 5th Marine Regiment. But for now, he said, the Marines are forced to serve as a bridge between two feuding sides.

Rawah is not alone. Although there are areas in the province where the Iraqi police and army are working well together -- Fallouja, for example -- in many places they are not, U.S. officials say.

All my hopes to our brave fighting men and women as we continue the struggle against terroristic extremism. I just wish that was actually the focus of this War on Terror.

Flash