No, I think that Bush said the goal was to take over Baghdad where the Shiite insurgents are in control. Also some province where al-Qaeda has control (too lazy to look it up).

Most people in the administration have said we should start to see tangible results in a few months. That is the time when the Iraqi army must say to themselves, "I'm going to kill ALL the bad guys, not just the ones who are a different sect of religion than I am."

Actually, it seems like a fair short term goal. If THIS doesn't work, then nothing will in Iraq. If this works, then the strategy can focus on the long term, with perhaps support from a majority of American people. It is a good test.

My guess is the insurgents will temporarily move out of Baghdad and don't give anybody a clean shot. The Iraqi Army will not have to prove itself, because the Bad Guys are on vacation for a couple months. I suspect they will move elsewhere and continue to blow up a few dozen people a day. I haven't got a clue what Bush will do then. At some point the American soldiers are going to get really, really tired.

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Hobo
Charter member of 'Republicans Who Hate Bush" Club