Bridging on Paul Gessing's blog, it does appear that Bush is only recognizing part of the lesson of Vietnam, Iraq, and perhaps even life generally. Bush seems to think that he -- and the American people -- need to be patient about Iraq.

As one who believes that "patience is a virtue," I hear that. One -- and a nation -- needs to recognize that Rome wasn't built in a day. But is that what the US is doing in Iraq, building something? If so, what is the US "building"? What is the mission, and what is the bigger picture?

The big picture, IMO, is that both Vietnam and Iraq were over-reactions by the US government. In Vietnam, it was the domino theory, that the US needed to fight around the world to stop the spread of Communism. In Iraq, it seems to have been about stopping the spread of "Islamo-fascism," and to stop Saddam from using WMD against the US and its allies.

Problem was, Communism was doomed from the outset. And there were schisms amongst the Communist nations back then, with the USSR and China already taking different paths. Dictators tend to act this way...recall that Hitler and Stalin were once allies.

Similarly, the Muslim nations are not one big conspiracy. Shiites and Sunnis have vastly different worldviews, though both are Islamic. Some of those nations are ruled by people who have vague designs on world domination, but most don't. Some of the people in those nations buy into the expansionist ideology, but most don't. Some are supporters of terrorists, but most don't. Sometimes, the "Arab street" likes it when a terrorist act is perpetrated, but often this is all about their frustration with being dominated by "the West," which has had a tendency to throw its weight around in the region. There, can we hardly blame them?

Bush is sticking to his guns that the Iraq War was a just cause. Without WMD, his case has been fatally weakened. Neocon ideologues have complex and paranoid visions about why the US needs to be in Iraq, in Syria, in Iran. I find them mistaken, deeply so.

Patience IS a virtue, true. But patience about a just cause. This ain't one. Rather than continue the face-saving charade, can't cooler heads prevail? Admit to mistakes, somewhat understandable mistakes. Count the successes. Saddam is out, was a twisted, bad guy, and he DID have WMD, and I'm persuaded wanted to re-arm with them. And get out of Iraq. Sure, it should be done with some patience and grace. Fair-minded people will be open to that.

-Robert Capozzi