Our military people on the ground are calling it. President Bush gave our military leaders the ultimate authority from the start - and that is the right way. We have very, very good people in our professional military. If something needs changing, they will so advise Bush and Rumsfield. And it will be changed. Count on it.
"Our military people on the ground are calling it."
If true, this is quite disasterous. Military people are not equipped for such a call. That is the province of the administration.
But I don't really believe it.
The administration keeps a tight lid on the military's "opinions". I read a web reference that said in 2004 numerous generals and other officers were reporting to Congress on various levels about the complete failure of the Iraqi army. The administration heard about it, clamped down, and all the testimonies of the officers did a 180 degree turn.
Sorry, I failed to save the reference, but I believe this happened. Nor is it as bad as it sounds.
Our military is superb. Not only the best in the world---one of the best ever (the Marines are in this category without question.) But the entire reason d'etre of the military is to obey orders---instantly and implicitly. No part of our society is less equipped to make policy. This is as it should be. Their job is to carry out the policy designed by others---loyally, bravely, and with the possible sacrafice of their own lives and the lives of their best friends. This is what we ask of them and this is what they do.