If we surge and it doesn't work, it's hard to imagine what we do after that.the "surge," of course, refers to the a twenty thousand troop increase in american forces in iraq that bush is expected to announce next week.
the u.s. currently has about 140,000 soldiers in iraq. that would put the "surged" amount at around 160,000. in december 2005, the number of u.s. forces in iraq was 160,000. at that time the size of the force was increased (or, if you prefer, "surged") for the iraqi national elections. and yet, after the december 2005 surge, things continued to deterioriate in iraq.
in other words, the surge has already happened, and it has already failed.
so, with all due respect to mr. kagan, it's not at all hard to imagine what we will do after the surge doesn't work. what happens is that the president just proposes to do it again. and everyone else pretends that it's a brand new idea.
(cross-posted)
