So you support the war in Iraq....

According to a recent article, U.S. military and intelligence officials came to the conclusion early on that this war might be a losing battle. In war simulation games, officials found that even with 400,000 troops (more than half what we have in Iraq now), the U.S. would not necessarily win the war in Iraq.

Still think we did the right thing?

How can our elected leaders send hundreds of thousands of young men and women (including many newlyweds with young wives and children at home) into a losing battle? Its almost like a death wish! Oh, I forgot... unlike Vietnam, we now have the medical technology to keep these people alive - who cares if they don't have any limbs left - bastards should be happy to be alive right?

Wake up. Oh, and vote!

http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/11/04/war.games.ap/index.html

Some of the conclusions are similar to what actually occurred after the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003:

"A change in regimes does not guarantee stability," the 1999 seminar briefings said. "A number of factors including aggressive neighbors, fragmentation along religious and/or ethnic lines, and chaos created by rival forces bidding for power could adversely affect regional stability."

"Even when civil order is restored and borders are secured, the replacement regime could be problematic -- especially if perceived as weak, a puppet, or out-of-step with prevailing regional governments."

"Iran's anti-Americanism could be enflamed by a U.S.-led intervention in Iraq," the briefings read. "The influx of U.S. and other western forces into Iraq would exacerbate worries in Tehran, as would the installation of a pro-western government in Baghdad."

"The debate on post-Saddam Iraq also reveals the paucity of information about the potential and capabilities of the external Iraqi opposition groups. The lack of intelligence concerning their roles hampers U.S. policy development."

"Also, some participants believe that no Arab government will welcome the kind of lengthy U.S. presence that would be required to install and sustain a democratic government."

"A long-term, large-scale military intervention may be at odds with many coalition partners."