Because the short way is probably far more costly than you suspect.

In 1966, Senator George Aiken of Vermont famously said that the solution to Vietnam was to "call it victory and get out." This was pre-Tet, pre-protests, and his advice was ignored.

In the years after until we finally did leave in defeat and humiliation, the United States lost 47,946 soldiers KIA, the South Vietnamese lost 148,135, and the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong combined lost 583,961. That was the butcher's bill, to which add dollar costs, damage to the US military, and a loss of national direction.

Our strategic intent in Iraq is murky. We're staying because we lack the political courage to leave, facing mounting costs in lives, dollars, and opportunities (to act decisively elsewhere; to rebuild our military) for every day until we do finally call it quits. This handwringing about withdrawal should end. Call it victory and get out.

I love the philosophical discussions about how long the US stays in Iraq, and what we do while there.

Bottom line: As part of the SOFA, there is a referendum this summer. If the public (not the pundits) don't support it, we have six months.

I have no doubt that many Iraq and US leaders might like something else, but, having spent 2008 on the ground there, I find it unlikely that a simple majority in Iraq does not want us out---whether that might be smart or not... the ballot will speak for itself.

Then, we can do more than speculate.

...driven off into the night after torching the place.

That IS sort of (allegorically) what we did in Vietnam after all, and maybe we can just skip the tens of thousands of dead American soldiers by just blowing Iraq up and leaving

WAIT! We've already blown a goodly portion of Iraq up, so all that's left to do is to get in the "little sedan" and head North on the Hollywood Freeway.

Never could stand that worthless war...

Well Frank settled down in the Valley
and hung his wild years
on a nail that he drove through
his wife's forehead
he sold used office furniture
out there on San Fernando Road
and assumed a $30,000 loan
at 15 1/4 % and put down payment
on a little two bedroom place
his wife was a spent piece of used jet trash
made good bloody marys
kept her mouth shut most of the time
had a little Chihuahua named Carlos
that had some kind of skin disease
and was totally blind.

They had a
thoroughly modern kitchen
self-cleaning oven (the whole bit)
Frank drove a little sedan
they were so happy

One night Frank was on his way home
from work, stopped at the liquor store,
picked up a couple Mickey's Big Mouths
drank 'em in the car on his way
to the Shell station, he got a gallon of
gas in a can, drove home, doused
everything in the house, torched it,
parked across the street, laughing,
watching it burn, all Halloween
orange and chimney red then
Frank put on a top forty station
got on the Hollywood Freeway
headed north

Never could stand that dog

http://lyricwiki.org/Tom_Waits:Frank%27s_Wild_Years

I have a molar with a fissure in the root of one of the three prongs. Te fissure causes inflammation around the tooth and eventually caused an abscess. To stop the abscess about the time of the start of the surge, a crown on the tooth had to be broken and removed and additional surgery was done through the side of the gum to rebuild the old root then to remove the abscess. New crown added to act like a blast wall in the chaos of chewing. Cost about 4k. Six months later, some inflammation but received enough antibiotics to make the inflammation. Last week swelling and inflammation reappears. Placed back on antibiotics and this morning will speak to the oral surgeon about more surgery, canal amputation, tooth removal and implant. Implant if that is the solution will wait seven months for a new insurance years and limit of coverage cheaper. If tooth's health was unstable at first abscess was the long or short route the least costly route. Would like to hear thoughts at the end of today, after the pain killer is working.

And Nora Jones singing "Long Way Home" will be playing in the background.

Believe we operate in a world with living organisms and the battle space has all same characteristics of region where that fissure in my tooth lies. Early removal may be the only least cost option.

It would have been nice if Bush and his generals had read the book. At least they would have gained an understanding of concepts like grand strategy and strategy, and how they differ from operations and tactics. (Something that Franks never seemed to grasp.)

One of my favorite quotes from Strategy the Bushies (including Franks) should have contemplated before assuming others would take care of rebuilding Iraq after "Mission Accomplished":

"The object in war is a better state of peace— even if only from your point of view. Hence it is essential to conduct war with constant regard to the peace you desire."

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