The New York post finds some good news in the latest poll numbers about Iraq. I think the surge in the poll numbers, however modest, is being driven by the success of the surge in Iraq, however modest, as best described here by LTC(Ret.) Ralph Peters, also in the Post. It just goes to show you that the American people still want to win, but will only support the continuation of this war, and any war for that matter, if they see a possible path to victory.

Americans may also be gaining an awareness of the consequences of defeat, as described here by former NY Times correspondent Clifford May.

Still, the intelligence community continues to aid Democrats in Congress in refuting the case being made by the President that Iraq is the "central front" in the war against Al Qaeda. Hollywood is also making its contribution by painting a negative picture of the war (which is not hard to do...making an anti-war movie has to be the easiest job in film making) and the soldiers who are fighting it.

What does it all mean? That the "central front" in the war against Al Qaeda and the allies is really here at home. If the American people are convinced that our military cannot win in Iraq, then our politicians will, eventually, respond by withdrawing those troops. As May points out in his article, if that happens, then there will be no logical reason to continue in Afghanistan, as similar conditions will prevail, although on a smaller scale. This will lead to an inevitable psychological withdrawal, making future Presidents far less willing to use our military to fight the Islamists. That will give them time and space to re-group, re-arm and, eventually, take the fight to us once again on our own soil.

My opinion remains unchanged. I foresee an eventual U.S. defeat in Iraq (because we will give up and go home, not because our troops were defeated on the battlefield), which will lead, at some point down the road, to a much larger, bloodier war. Our children will curse us for our stupidity in electing poor leaders, and our timidity.