[PornoDoggy]

A defeatist? I'm a realist. If the glass is half-full, that's what I'm going to say - not half-empty, not almost full - just half empty.

What makes you think my concern about the course the military campaign has taken has anything to do with network talking heads who used to be flag officers? What makes you think that the split between some folks in the Pentagon and Rumsfeld has only been an issue since this war began?

I'm not going to defend McCafferty or Clark, because I've paid very little attention to what they've said. I guess the main difference between me and you is that I can admit they may be out for their own self interests, or that their own interests may be part of what causes them to say what they say. However, that charge from you merely means they aren't parroting a line you care to hear, ergo there must be something wrong with their motiviations.

I have as much an idea where the troops are as you do, Mike. And you can oooh and awww over what the pencil-neck geeks at the Pentagon have done if you want - me, I'm impressed by what the folks in the theater have done.

Now, there are folks in the theater and folks back in Washington who are looking at what we've done right and what we've done wrong. Hopefully they will be allowed to reach their conclusions and make adustments to future policy without political interference.

And Mike - I'd be proud to be thought a Frenchman by you in the same way I'm proud to be thought a Communist by Torone.