The current Atlantic Monthly (October) features an article by James Fallows entitled, "Bush's Lost Year." It is about 2002, when the Administration lost almost all interest in Afghanistan, Osama bin Laden and the perpetrators of 9/11.
Though unemotional and careful, it comes across as a powerful statement that the war on Iraq is a distraction from the war on the perpetrators of 9/11.
Sen. Kerry - he who still cannot say in plain English what he believes about the war on Iraq - ought to read it. You may find it of interest, too.
The same issue contains a "Comment" by Joanthan Rauch that also is worth reading as a demonstration of how much we need George Orwell.
Rauch's argument is that the nation does better when power is divided, when the Executive and Legislative branches are in the hands of different parties.There's something in that, but Rauch's argument is incompetent, starting with his inability to properly define what is conservative and what isn't.
It gets worse after that but don't take my word for it. Read it. You know how bad movies can be entertaining? Well, bad political thinking can educate.
PS Turns out Rauch is a senior writer for The National Journal. I should have known.