Gary Kamiya article here.

My riposte:

I like Kamiya's simple argument that pouring more fuel on this fire will only make things worse -- an argument that is gaining more and more traction among those who value human life in the US.

Another metaphor may also work: if one is dealt a weak hand in poker, then makes a decent bet, which an opponent with a better hand raises, the *smart tactical move* is to *fold* and live to play another hand.

No amount of betting will make one's hand better, and if after 200,000 troops, 3,000+ dead, and four years, and nearly a trillion dollars, no amount of bluffing and posturing will save us now.

This explains Bush/Cheney's current Iran War plans -- they're still bluffing with no hand.

But never fear, all: David Brooks tells us that "Bush is convinced that history is moving in the direction of
democracy, or as he said Friday: 'It's more of a theological
perspective. I do believe there is an Almighty, and I believe a gift of that Almighty to all is freedom. And I will tell you that is a principle that no one can convince me that doesn't exist.'"

Bush is a horrible, egotistical card player committed to bringing down our whole country on his big bluff.