Buckley: The War is Lost

An astonishing editorial from William F. Buckley in the National Review. The upshot: it's in the country's best interest to concede defeat and make plans based on that reality. $Q: It would not be surprising to learn from an anonymously cited American soldier that he can understand why Saddam Hussein was needed to keep the Sunnis and the Shiites from each others' throats. The fault lines between the pretend conservatism of George Bush and the genuine conservatives is growing by the hour as the Dubai controversy divides those on the right into two camps: men of principle or Cult of Bush sycophants. With Iraq lurching towards civil war, the port fiasco could be a prelude to the base running from the war as well. Dark days for both W and all innocent Iraqis bearing the brunt of his incompetent and adolescent foreign policy.

Baghdad Shuts Down

First hand account from Baghdad Burning of the mood after the desecration of the shrine. No one's going to work or college tomorrow. $Q: I think what has everyone most disturbed is the fact that the reaction was so swift, like it was just waiting to happen. A personal portrait of Baghdad at the brink of civil war.

President's Port Problem

When even Hugh Hewitt puts away the pom-poms with the big Ws on them and says "Yuck" to Bush's veto threat on port legislation you know the President is in for a rough ride. The issue is easily stated and guarantees a visceral reaction : Why is the President ceding control of key US ports to a nation with real (as opposed to Saddam-ish) ties to Al Qaida? Given that kind of ammo, Rove's grand strategy of riding National Security to victory in 2006 will be ripped to shreds. The move is reminiscent of the Harriet Miers fiasco: the administration is choosing to pick a fight with the base, but this time they desperately need them to run cover for investigations into the illegal NSA activity. Look for them to float a few trial arguments in the next few days to bolster the President's brash stance then cave in a hurry if none take hold. Short of accidentally shooting a friend, it's hard to see an issue with less upside for the administration.