connecting*the*dots

Steve Gilliard: […] “We’re debating a “surge” as if the Iraqis are monkey men who live in deep jungle. We’re debating tactics and they can adjust to them because they read the NY Times.” […]

Helena Cobban: […] “But possibly the worst recent Iraq news for the Prez came from the Shiite holy city of Karbala where on Saturday, some very bold and well-organized anti-US insurgents wearing what looked like US uniforms drove a sizable convoy of SUVs right into a joint US-Iraqi base, and hunted down the US service members there, killing five and wounding three, before the whole convoy roared right out into the sunset again, unimpeded.” […]

It seems as though the Iraqi insurgency is operating on a self-sustaining budget of $70 to $200 million a year and causing complete havoc. Meanwhile, we’re spending $8 billion dollars per month to accomplish missions that amount to not much more than killing/maiming people and being killed/maimed ourselves.