Interesting tidbit...
[politics filter]
Report on
construction of new intelligence facilities in Iraq. Interesting both for its own utility and for what it implies about America's long-term plans in the region. Compare and contrast with the continuation (with no end in sight) of low-intensity conflict there - what are we getting ourselves into? Can we maintain a long-term committment in the area?
No doubt we have the physical capability to do so, but there are some questions about the costs, how those might rise over time (Vietnamization, even?) and how dependent we may become on being able to hold that position. If costs rise, political will may wane, and then the gods alone know what may come next.
( And, some editorial comment on this...Collapse ) 
