Nothing New In Iraq

The Washington Post reports that Iraqi units have control over 21,000 sq. mi. of Iraq (out of a total and "need[ing] to control about 85,000 square miles to fulfill Bush's target). However, he has managed to make an increase of 20,000 sq. mi. into a net decrease in the preparedness of Iraqi forces. In the last assessment, only one unit (down from three last year) was able to operate without American assistance. Now it has moved to zero:

What constitutes control, however, depends on the definition, since no Iraqi unit is currently rated capable of operating without U.S. assistance. And vast swaths of Iraq have never been contested by insurgents, meaning they could ultimately be turned over to local forces without directly affecting the conflict. (italics added)

This is a Johnsonian/Nixonian strategy for victory.