So says Thomas Ricks, author of Fiasco and The Gamble

So says Thomas Ricks, author of Fiasco and The Gamble: General David Petraeus and the American Military

Adventure in Iraq, 2006-2008, on last night’s Daily Show.

“General Odierno says he would like to see 35,000 troops there (Iraq) in 2015. What that means is that

we may be just halfway through this thing.”

A very sobering interview, especially for one on Jon Stewart’s show.

Those who have believed that the departure of Dubya from the oval office will mean that Israeli

politicians will no longer be able to call up American presidents and tell them what to do should think

twice. The story of General Anthony Zinni’s aborted appointment as ambassador to Iraq has received

remarkably little attention, and it has been attributed to his being a general and his directorship

with major military contractor Dyncorp. Neither explanation is plausible as Hillary Clinton certainly

knew he was a general when the appointment was discussed and the issue of Dyncorp never came up in the

interview process.