21,500

I'm hoping it is the magic number: 21,500. The number of new troops that will be going to Iraq. 21,500 more lives put at risk to achieve the "mission", whatever the heck that is.

Its been a busy week and I haven't been following the story as much as id like to, but from what I hear, a lot of people are unhappy about this. I am hoping this is the magic number because I hope it will turn things around. I doubt it though. Firstly, how was this number derived at? I know Bush doesn't read, so its a safe bet that he hasn't read Malcolm Gladwell's book "The Tipping Point".

Regardless of how this number was derived at, I would like to know how many of them speak the language of the region. How many ever soldiers you send, I don't think it matters if they cannot communicate. If the soldiers, like the people sending them, do not know the difference between Bin and Binte as pointed out previously, not much good is going to come out of this. Further, I think other changes have to be made, not only with regard to domestic issues, but international issues too. Syria and Iran need to be brought in. It is clear that that will not happen, at least as clear as it was that Rumsfeld would not be fired.

That changed, and I'm hoping this will too.