Over Congressional disquietude, President Bush is determined to put his administration's next phase into action. The operation is characterized by a surge of 21,000 embedded U.S. soldiers in Iraqi military units (but under U.S. command) into Baghdad to quell opposition. The surge would be followed by a massive reconstruction effort.

Is there a victory senario for the United States in a conflict that seems to be transforming itself into civil war among the Shia and Sunni ethnic groups? Could such deterioration spread to international involvement? Historically, what approaches have been used to end internicine struggles?

President Bush has said that winning in Iraq is essential, but that we're not likely to see a surrender ceremony on the deck of a battleship (he's referring to the surrender of Japan at the close of WWII on the battleship, Missouri). Some have observed that it is hard to escape the irony, however, of President Bush's declaration of victory adeck the battleship USS Abraham Lincoln in May 2003.

It will be interesting to tune into the political power struggle between the Legislative and Executive branches of government as a new approach develops to U.S. Iraq policy.
Photo: AP May 3, 2003