It's a shame there isn't a single project manager to be found among BushCo's cronies. 'Cause if there were, it'd be so much more clear just what "staying the course" means.
How might a progressive project manager (or member of Congress) respond to Rove's snearing "Cut and Run" slurs? Like this...
As every good project manager knows, you don't start a project without knowing what its objectives are... at the very least.
As a matter of course, you define a SMART project. That is, an effort that is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-framed.
Specific.
So you say our goal in Iraq is to make the world safe from those terrible WMDs. Er, to topple Saddam. No, wait! To bring democracy to the Middle East! Um... no, our goal is to wage a war on Terra! And, the bastard's got nukes!! Hmm...
Clearly, specificity is an issue. At the very least the war's objectives have suffered significant scope creep; at worst the named objectives are fluid and poorly defined. More, the methods of proposed warfare seem to be in question... you can't seem to decide how many troops need to be involved.
Sorry... your project is not approved.
Measurable.
Goals must be measurable. Let's be creative and suggest that those WMDs should be brought from a number of gazillions to, say... zero. And that the number of toppled dictators should equal one. Fair dinkum.
However, introducing Democracy to the Middle East has a few problems in terms of measurement... hell, we can't be certain whether we've got a statistically valid Democracy here in the US. And that whole War on Terror thing? First it's a non-sequitur. Second, it's clearly an open-ended sort of efort with no objectively measurable results.
Once again, sorry... your project is not approved. Have a conversation with the UN, instead... there may be alternate approaches to meet some of your stated objectives.
Achievable.
Well certainly this project can be achieved given the excellent men and women in our armed services; they're brave, and they're committed to protecting our freedoms and we're proud of them.
However, some of the non-personnel resources seem to be at issue. There appears to be a disturbing lack of suitable body armor and armored vehicles to sustain the human resource element. Further, the number of available human resources doesn't match the requirements noted by some key stakeholders. Finally, the rather loose approach to objectives shows decidely poor leadership... and while our brave men and women can do most anything, they can't lead themselves ('cause when they do, sometimes terrible mistakes can happen.)
Sorry... your project is not approved. Consider additional planning. For that matter, consider taking a course in remedial diplomacy.
Relevant.
While we find the idea of a despot obtaining and using WMDs disturbing, there appear to be some problems with reliability of your supporting arguments. This "yellow cake" thing... are you quite certain about your sources? And, for the sake of argument let's presume that this despot has WMDs, er, to umploy your own language -- "out the yin-yang" -- are we at all certain he has either the ability or the motivation to deploy them outside of his own country?
In fact, it would appear that this particular despot is really a threat to no one but his own people. While that is, itself, a problem to be addressed on the world stage, it's not a finding material for invasion and occupation. Again, may we recommend a referral to the United Nations? Perhaps a but of political leverage exercised via his nearest neighbors and trading partners?
Sorry... your project is not approved. The potential costs -- human life, the nations's treasury, our standing in the world -- are simply far too great for what would appear to be negligable returns.
Time-framed.
You say that this project will reach its conclusion when you're damn good and ready and not a minute sooner? Gosh... that's a little heavy-handed, isn't it? I mean, should there be additional oversight? Some kind of steering committee?
No?
Sorry... your project is not approved. And, for good measure, just who the hell do you think you are, anyway?