I would like to make an analogy between a GM car and our policy in Iraq.

The GM car looks shiny when new, runs good and can even be thought of as the equivalent of a German or Japanese car. It is only when age sets in and the car has put in over 50,000 miles that its drawbacks begin to be noticeable.

Likewise, our policy in Iraq looked great as American forces were unleashed on Baghdad. "Shock and Awe" was indeed awesome.I am sure the Iraqis were properly intimidated. When the newness wore off and the insurgents started taking over the streets and back alleys of Baghdad, Fallujah, Mosul and Tikrit not to mention the road to the airport from Baghdad, the costs of maintaining our illusions have become clear.It is going to be a long hard road and we are not good at staying on one.

Like the proverbial GM car, the age of this policy is showing.It is going to get worse.

BTW, did I say GM is teetering on the brink of bankruptcy?