1) We have been in Iraq for 3 years, 7.5 months.
NOT 4 straight years.
2) "Insurgents" have not been running us around for all that time.
3) In terms of casualties, the country was quite calm for the first year. Then the foreign terrorists began flooding the country in an effort to stop the elections and the establishment of a democratic form of government.
FReepers understand, but have you (or Bush) explained that to the American people? In many ways, they see us bogged down, spending money, and getting our guys killed to build soccer fields, schools, and sewage systems.
If foreign fighters are "flooding" into the country, why aren't we sealing the border with a buffer zone in which any truck, car, or human is a target for a preditor? Why do we let Al Sadr foment terrorists rather than serving as an aim point?
Winning their hearts and minds through soccer fields and water systems is fine, IF their hearts and minds are open to being won. Bombs on target help open hearts and minds.
Yes, I understand all that. I even think there is a chance we'd get the situation squared away in Iraq using the methods we're using now, given enough time. How much time, I don't know and I doubt that W knows either.
The point is that our inability to defeat the insurgents decisively and quickly has been an encouragement to both the terrorists and the Democrats.
The result was the victory we handed both of these groups last Tuesday. A major fubar, and rightly or wrongly, our people, starting with the President, have to take responsibility for it.