No Stomach for Casualties

This story explores possible reasons that Americans seem to have less tolerance for this war, which has cost 3,000 American lives, than -- for example -- WWII (400,000 American casualties; 20,000 at the Battle of the Bulge alone).

Two of the reasons make sense: First, there has been no convincing, ongoing explanation of what we are doing in Iraq and why. That's the Administration's fault; it should surely understand that Americans can hardly be expected to continue to support a war -- given the drumbeat of defeatism coming from the left and the MSM -- without perpetual reminders from the other side for the reasons it's important than we not surrender the country to Islamofascist terrorists.

Second, the American people are impatient because, at the moment, it seems that there is no clear plan for victory. Last year's elections weren't, as the Democrats insist, a repudation of the war and a call for retreat 'n defeat. Rather, it was a clear message to the Preident and to Republicans that -- if American lives are going to be sacrificed -- it should be in accordance with a plan that offers a real and meaningful chance of victory.