so americans are almost to baghdad. what on earth does that mean? just a few days ago, the administration was telling us to prepare for a long war. now it is trumpeting that the iraqi regime's days are numbered.

i think that the assertion that this war is almost over is fairly irresponsible in and of itself. but what really worries me is the lack of public debate over the appropriate post-war role (if any) of united states forces in iraq. last night i spoke to a republican representative from virginia who happens to have a son in my american politics seminar. he told us, essentially, that despite his public support of the president, war is a frightening gamble: "there are a hundred ways this could go badly...we won't really know what the outcome is for ten years..."

in a certain sense, it's nice to know these people aren't as decided as they seem. it's also immensely distressing to know that that lack of public honesty is shutting down the only dialogue that has a chance of saving the united states from its own incredible hubris.