::chuckle:: Whether or not G. W. Bush is himself stupid or not, somewhere in the woodwork are some fairly intelligent advisers.

Out here in redneck-land, selling an invasion of Iraq wouldn't be all that difficult, and there are a few more seemingly sophisticated folk who talk as if they could at least be persuaded. But my opinion of the goings-on over the past few days agrees with ChrisR. The function of those remarks is more to keep the Arab world off-balance than any serious proposal. After all, pending any real final resolution, the U.S. seems to have done fairly spectacularly using little in the way of real military commitment -- special forces and other tricks, plus the traditional [read your Kipling] tactic of dividing and bribing; no conquest necessary. From the POV of people planning Bad Things against the U.S., the fact that most of the traditional military force of the U.S. is still in reserve must be somewhat thought-provoking, and Bush and his advisers are trying to promote such thought.

It remains to be seen whether or not we have the horsepower to actually set something more lasting up, or rather to urge the Afghanis to do so. I rather hope that we do, for more or less personal reasons: my son is a member of the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

And even those of us who rather like Bush and company -- with strong reservations in the case of Ashcroft -- are a bit agog at how well the situation has been managed in general. Pleased, but surprised.