[DieHard the Hunter]

> Ex-secretary of State predicts a gradual reduction in troops to start in 2006, but says there will be a military presence for a long time.

Nobody seriously expected Iraq to be a frat-house panty-raid, surely? Over-and-done in one nite? Germany wasn't. Korea wasn't...

[Thebaddog]

Do you suppose that Powell got played by some of his "friends" that he developed relations with in the Clinton years who convinced him to press for the UN vote before the invasion? Colin was the point man for the strategy that created the delay and probable gave Saddam the time he needed to move the WMDs to Syria, IMHO.