Our unfortunate and inexplicable descent into Iraq is best reflected by the parable of the American Naval Ship and the Canadian Lighthouse.
To understand how the parable relates, imagine that Dick Cheney is the Admiral of the Naval Ship, and Iraq is the lighthouse:
[Fictional] transcript of a US naval ship with Canadian authorities off the coast of Newfoundland . . .
Americans: "Please divert your course 15 degrees to the North to avoid a collision."
Canadians: "Recommend you divert YOUR course 15 degrees to the South to avoid a collision."
Americans: "This is the captain of a US Navy ship. I say again, divert YOUR course."
Canadians: "No, I say again, you divert YOUR course."
Americans: "THIS IS THE AIRCRAFT CARRIER USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN, THE SECOND LARGEST SHIP IN THE UNITED STATES' ATLANTIC FLEET. WE ARE ACCOMPANIED BY THREE DESTROYERS, THREE CRUISERS AND NUMEROUS SUPPORT VESSELS. I DEMAND THAT YOU CHANGE YOUR COURSE 15 DEGREES NORTH. THAT'S ONE-FIVE DEGREES NORTH, OR COUNTER MEASURES WILL BE UNDERTAKEN TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF THIS SHIP."
Canadians: "This is a lighthouse. Your call."
Unfortunately, unlike in the parable, there was no one in the real world to tell Mr. Cheney that the Lighthouse was in fact a Lighthouse. And thus we are where we are today.