No Phase 4, No Surprise

Military experts have wondered why there was no phase 4 plan for rebuilding and getting out of Iraq. General George Casey endlessly badgered Tommy Franks about phase 4. We now know that Donald Rumsfeld refused to allow military strategists to do so. This is insane beyond comprehension.

Even if the troops didn't stay, "at least we have to plan for it," Scheid said.

"I remember the secretary of defense saying that he would fire the next person that said that," Scheid said. "We would not do planning for Phase 4 operations, which would require all those additional troops that people talk about today.

Brig. Gen. Mark Scheid worked in Central Command and was part of the planning of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

Kevin Drum writes, "The bulk of the evidence continues to suggest that democracy and rebuilding were simply not on Bush's radar."

Andrew Sullivan: "It's becoming clearer and clearer that Donald Rumsfeld is a worse defense secretary than Robert McNamara."

I wholeheartedly agree with both those comments. If Sullivan is hoping for sane Republicans to force Bush to fire Rumsfeld then that's wishful thinking. Chuck Hagel and John McCain said they have no confidence in Rumsfeld and they won't ask Bush to make him resign. Short answer: Bitch about the state of Iraq, but do nothing to solve the problem.