Gimme just one more year, 'cause I can't surge forever

If I had a Wanker of the Day award like Atrios, I'd give it to Maj. Gen. Richard Lynch today. He's the commander of the 3rd Infantry Division of the U.S. Army in Iraq, and he wants to go at least another couple of Friedman Units to nail things down over there:

"It's going to take through (this) summer, into the fall, to defeat the extremists in my battle space, and it's going to take me into next spring and summer to generate this sustained security presence," he said, referring to an Iraqi capability to hold gains made by U.S. forces.

Lynch said he had projected in March, when he arrived as part of the troop buildup, that it would take him about 15 months to accomplish his mission, which would be summer 2008.

He expressed concern at the growing pressure in Washington to decide by September whether the troop buildup is working and to plan for an early start to withdrawing all combat troops.

Okay, Dick (may I call you "Dick?" Seems fitting ...), here's the thing: the "war" has gone on for, what, five years now? If memory serves, it's now second in duration only to the Vietnam War (again, not really a war at all, but bear with me) among all American military operations since the Revolution. And you say you need another year before you can settle things down? Way to move those goalposts back another 366 days, pal.

Lynch said that Iraqi security forces are not close to being ready to take over for the American troops. So if the extra troops that were brought in this year are to be sent home in coming months, the insurgents - both Sunni and Shiite extremist groups - will regain control, he said.

"To me, it would be wrong to take ground from the enemy at a cost - I've lost 80 soldiers under my command — 56 of those since the fourth of April - it would be wrong to have fought and won that terrain, only to turn around and give it back," he said in an interview with two reporters who traveled with him by helicopter to visit troops south and west of Baghdad.

Now, see, Dick, here you're just missing the point. The point is not to waste more lives, it's to save lives, and the very best way to do that is to end the war. I might even grant you that "it would be wrong to have fought and won that terrain," but see, it's been wrong to fight for the last half-decade now. Two wrongs don't make a right, true ... but three rights make a left, and we should have left a long time ago. Get it, Dick?

Near Jurfassakhar, just west of the larger town of Iskandariyah, al-Qaida elements have recently been fighting another Sunni extremist group but could be preparing to resume attacks on U.S. and Iraqi forces.

"And that's why we've got to continue offensive operations," he said. "I worry about this talk about reducing or terminating the surge," using the military's term of deploying the five extra combat brigades to the Baghdad area, as well as extra Marines to Anbar province west of the capital.

"We've got him on the run," Lynch said, referring to the insurgents. "Some people say we've got him on the ropes. I don't believe that. But I believe we've got him on the run."

Lynch said he thinks too much focus is being placed on the military part of the solution to Iraq's problems and too little on the need to promote progress toward a functional central government.

Yep, the insurgents are on the run. Remind me of that after the next suicide bombing, won't you? Keep clapping, Dick ...

Oh, and Dick? You say there's too much focus on the military aspects of the conflict in Iraq ... but, um, isn't fighting for another year placing even more focus on military action? Dude, if you're going to be a dumbass, man, embrace it ... be consistent! We'll all respect your idiocy much more if you stick with one point of view and not muddy it up with, you know, bullshit.

What a wanker. Lynch fiddles while Baghdad burns ...

(Cross-posted at Pax Americana)