Iraq Occupation Quotes of the Day

From an article by Michael Hirsch, Newsweek:

Under Petraeus’s plan, a U.S. military force of 160,000 or more is setting up hundreds of “mini-forts” all over Baghdad and the rest of the country, right in the middle of the action. The U.S. Army has also stopped pretending that Iraqis—who have failed to build a credible government, military or police force on their own—are in the lead when it comes to kicking down doors and keeping the peace. And that means the future of Iraq depends on the long-term presence of U.S. forces in a way it did not just a few months ago. -- [emphasis mine]

Meanwhile, Politico.com lays out the new strategy planned by Senate Dems to call for a U.S. troop exit by the end of March 2008 and limit Bush in other ways. The proposal by Biden and Levin would also:

... restrict U.S. military efforts in Iraq to training and logistical support for the Iraqi army, counterterrorism operations and securing the Iraqi borders, especially with Iran and Syria, said the Democratic insiders, who would speak only on the condition of anonymity as the drafting proceeds.

Senate Democratic leaders have not decided when to formally introduce the new measure, which, if enacted, would restrict the president's authority to conduct military operations inside Iraq.

... The Biden-Levin resolution would supersede the use-of-force resolution for Iraq passed by Congress in October 2002. And it would require Bush to seek new authorization from Congress to send more combat troops to Iraq, or make any other dramatic changes in the nature of the U.S. military mission there.

It's seems clear that Bush will try to get as much of the escalation in place before Congress can act to stop him. Let's hope Dems in Washington start acting decisively more than talking endlessly ....