WASHINGTON -- I was booed by some in an audience in Sarasota, Florida last March for saying that history might judge the invasion of Iraq as the beginning of the end of American empire. But, for better or worse, that is what is happening: We are pouring out our power, credibility, good intentions and blood into the sands of Arabia.
The embarrassment (or humiliation) of Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld last week is the noisy echo of the quiet desperation in the White House about what to try next in our domination and occupation of a country farther away than we thought. After taking down Secretary of State Colin Powell for arguing that the job was tougher than it looked, and taking down the military for saying more troops were needed to occupy, President Bush is taking down Rumsfeld for his arrogant unilateralism within the administration.
Now it is Condoleezza Rice’s turn. The torch, burning nearer to our fingers, has been passed to the National Security Advisor, the new boss of the new Iraq Stabilization Group.
How did it come this? History may find other reasons but so far some of our mistakes are obvious:
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