Even Gates now says it: "This is not going to be solved by the military."

[Sparkly]

Defense Secretary Robert Gates said the success of the mission, which was starting well, could not be measured for months and that it was designed to give the Iraqis more time to settle political and sectarian differences.

"The issue that we're all trying to figure out is how best do you get the Iraqis to reconcile their differences — because after all, this is not going to be solved by the military. It has to involve political reconciliation in Iraq, among Iraqis," Gates said on CBS's "Face the Nation."

"We're basically buying them time," he said.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070318/ap_on_re_mi_ea/iraq

Maybe he wasn't paying attention before he had the job, but the military has "bought" YEARS of time now for US leadership to "figure out" a political resolution, and they keep making it all about the military. What are they buying time for? A big lightbulb to pop up above somebody's head all of a sudden?!? Or for all the Iraqi militias to run out of explosives? Or for the military to kill all the "bad guys?"

How much time do they need to "figure out" a strategy, while this war -- bleeding both countries -- wages on??

[Fresh_Start]

1. Replace the troops with diplomats

my sign for yesterdays march.

[Hissyspit]

2. Nice of him to confirm what everyone here knew four years ago. n/t