That’s it?
Just 20,000 or so extra troops?
Bush is making the same mistake he made the first time round - sending in just enough troops to lose. I mean 20,000 extra troops would the amount required for securing the Baghdad area alone, never mind all of the rest of Iraq. 50, 000 would be the decisive number required to have any hope of redeeming the situation at this point.
The best Bush can hope for at this stage would be to prolong the situation so his successor will have to deal with the conequences pulling out of Iraq. That way he can avoid the legacy of being the guy responsible for America’s eventual ignominious withdrawal from Iraq.