Here we see a Navy beachmaster evacuating Americans from Lebanon. A striking pose, full of energy and purpose, except that this a retreat, not an assault. The reality of the Israeli indiscriminate non-war on Lebannon has pushed hundreds of thousands out of their homes. Of course, none of these things where supposed to happen:
- The U.S. was no supposed to be fighting in Iraq after three years of occupation.
- The fall of Saddam's Regime was supposed to make Israel safer.
- Democracy would spread through out the region.
Instead we have nearly a 100 dead each day in Iraq, no American exit strategy and many conservatives going gaga over the possibility of a war with Syria and/or Iran calling a world war (III, IV or V, your choice). Recent reports have the U.S. going back to Baghdad employing their last ground reserves in the region. Plus it seems that the American forces are dependent on a single supply route extenting from the Kuwaiti border all the way to central Iraq. If Bill Kristol gets his way and the U.S. goes to war will this be the face of things to come?
(image: Kevork Djansezian/Associated Press. July 21, 2006. New York Times. Cover. Thanks to The BagnewsNotes and Pyrrho for the title)