Bush: You Forgot Clausewitz--What About Clausewitz?

How's this for sending mixed messages to the troops:

Major Assaults on Hold Until After U.S. Vote

The Bush administration plans to delay major assaults on rebel-held cities in Iraq until after U.S. elections in November, say administration officials, mindful that large-scale military offensives could affect the U.S. presidential race.

And, as Steve Gilliard points out, it's not like major assualts will do a hell of a lot of good--any territory we "gain" will most likely be lost right after we cede control to the "Iraqi" forces, who, like their ARVN predecessors, aren't exactly motivated.

In a similar vein, Gilliard notes the hypocrisy of the weapons buy back program underway in Sadr City. Yeah, right. We're buying back WHAT THE INSURGENTS DON'T NEED and GIVING THEM MONEY which they can spend on other things--like better weapons, or provisions.

The fact is that what we're critically lacking is understanding of what's happening on the ground in Iraq. Pretty much everything the Bush team is saying is AT BEST pure speculation, and, more likely, lies pulled straight out of their ass. Not a word of it can be believed.

Now, we see that Bush is playing politics with military operations. These folks will stoop at nothing.