How does one define "Victory in Iraq"?

Victory in Iraq as seen by President George W. Bush

While chatting with my more reactionary brother, Richard from Connecticut, earlier this evening, we realized that neither of us knew exactly why we were fighting in Iraq to begin with. Obviously, to define "victory in Iraq" one needs to know why we are fighting there to begin with ... right?

If it's somehow measured by time ... well, we've been there longer than the War in Europe during World War II. If it's hostile and non-hostile deaths to our fighting forces that Bush was after, he now has more American dead in the combined Iraq and Afghanistan Wars (Bush Wars I and II) than were killed on September 11, 2001. If he's counting freelance militias fighting among the Americans caught in the civil war there, it is estimated that there are 23 as of the end of this month. If it's dead Iraqis (Bill O'Reilly's measure), more than 5,000 Iraqis died in Baghdad alone in July and August. The National Intelligence Estimate suggests (states emphatically) that more terrorists are being generated daily by the war there than are being captured or killed.

And on and on it goes ... it's obviously all backwards.

Of course, with the Midterm Elections coming up in roughly a month, Mr. Bush is shouting "victory is coming; victory is coming ..." from the rooftops in a series of speeches that even exceeds the number of scandals among Republicans in Congress. Listen to his inspiring words:

"Victory in Iraq will be difficult and it will require more sacrifice. The fighting there can be as fierce as it was at Omaha Beach or Guadacanal. And victory is as important as it was in those earlier battles. Victory in Iraq will be a crushing defeat for our enemies, who have staked so much on the battle there. Victory in Iraq will honor the sacrifice of the brave Americans who have given their lives. And victory in Iraq will be a powerful triumph in the ideological struggle of the 21st century."

But now, Mr. Bush, please, please tell us ... what exactly will the above victory look like? How will we know when we have achieved it? We went into this war thinking we were ridding Iraq of its WMDs. There weren't any. We thought we were taking down one of Osama bin Laden's allies. Now, we know they were arch enemies.

What exactly are you telling the mothers, fathers, wives, husbands and children of those who are giving their all for your war? For what exact goal are they dying in Iraq?

Some of your staunchest supporters are stating that the "war on terror" is a never-ending war. If that's the case, where is the "victory," except in the pockets of the corporations who are manufacturing the weaponry and building new and more expensive bases in one of the least safe spots in the entire world?

Please don't tell us that "victory in Iraq" is measured by the falling gasoline prices or the new record highs that will be reached during October (in time for the elections) by the DOW Industrial averages.

God bless America! God help us all ...