With Myers, Abizaid and Casey out of the picture ... (and Rummy after the midterms) who will be left? Cheney? Not in 2008, me thinks ...

The little clip from of a letter written by General John Abizaid (clipped from the Reid-Pelosi letter referenced in the previous posting) suggested that Abizaid and Casey were sure to disappear from the Iraqi "scene," don't you think?

“I met with every divisional commander, General Casey, the Corps commander, General Dempsey. We all talked together. And I said, in your professional opinion, if we were to bring in more American troops now, does it add considerably to our ability to achieve success in Iraq? And they all said no. And the reason is, because we want the Iraqis to do more. It's easy for the Iraqis to rely upon to us do this work. I believe that more American forces prevent the Iraqis from doing more, from taking more responsibility for their own future.”

The difference between this clip and the Reid-Pelosi letter is that Casey and Abizaid know what the situation on the ground actually is.

"Disappearing" those who disagree with your predispositions as to what should be done is not the way a really good "decider" decides matters as serious as the upcoming surge of forces in Baghdad and elsewhere in Iraq.

I really fear what the spring and summer will bring for our young men and women in Iraq ... not to mention the Iraqis. And if the Israelis and Iranians go at it ... Katie bar the door!