William F. Buckley has an excellent column which crystallizes what I am sure a lot of us are thinking when we ponder the political implications of the Iraq War. In a nutshell, the GOP is in trouble. The American people do not like limited wars without clearly defined (and simply achievable) victory conditions. When they conclude that we are not going to fight all-out to achieve a traditional victory (after the Chinese intervention in Korea in December 1950, and after the Tet Offensive in Vietnam in January 1968, to use two examples) they turn against the war in ever larger numbers. In Iraq, it seemed as if we had achieved a traditional victory after only three weeks of war. But, as the insurgency grew, it became more and more apparent that there was no way to limit the violence to the extent that it would allow our withdrawal. This has created an image of endless war with no way out, which is why the poll numbers have turned sharply against the war. Buckley is right in that he senses an electoral debacle for the GOP when voters have another opportunity to express their hatred of this war.

Major Owen West has this op-ed in the New York Times that describes the disconnect between the military situation in Iraq and the political situation here in the United States. West correctly identifies the paradox that is taking shape whereby as the military situation improves, due to the implementation of a proper counter-insurgency strategy and the growing capability of the Iraqi Army, the American domestic political situation deteriorates as the public grows ever more weary of the war and its cost. Major West is also correct when he writes that we will need American troops in Iraq for a decade to help them bring stability to the country. Unfortunately, the American people do not have that kind of patience.

Bill Roggio has the latest from Iraq.

In Israel, a new report about their lost war against Hezbollah is drawing attention, including this piece from John Podhoretz.

Christopher Hitchens slams George Tenet.

Here is an interesting piece in the Weekly Standard that links the availability of state-sponsored old-age pensions with falling fertility rates. Since these programs are pay-as-you-go, which requires younger workers to pay for retirees, it is a prescription for disaster.