The Academy Has Another Nominee

We at Fluba have been in a state of breathless anticipation since we read:

Think About What This Means. Think Hard

...WASHINGTON — The Bush administration will delay major assaults on rebel-held cities in Iraq until after U.S. elections in November, say administration officials, mindful that large-scale military offensives could affect the U.S. presidential race.

Although American commanders in Iraq have been buoyed by recent successes in insurgent-held towns such as Samarra and Tall Afar, administration and Pentagon officials say they will not try to retake cities such as Fallujah and Ramadi -- where insurgents' grip is strongest and U.S. military casualties could be the greatest -- until after Americans vote in what is likely to be a close election."

When this election's over, you'll see us move very vigorously," said one senior administration official involved in strategic planning, speaking on condition of anonymity."Once you're past the election, it changes the political ramifications" of a large-scale offensive, the official said. "We're not on hold right now. We're just not as aggressive...

Think about what this means. Think hard. Think very hard.

The generals say we should move now. Moving now gives us the greatest chance of victory at the lowest likely cost. Moving later gives us a lesser chance of victory at a higher cost in terms of our soldiers' lives. But moving later is helpful to the Bush-Cheney campaign.

Impeach George W. Bush. Impeach Richard Cheney. Impeach them now.

Posted by DeLong at October 10, 2004 09:26 PM

Ah, and when we did, Professor, we knew what was about to happen:

Marines Pound Zarqawi Sites in Fallujah

BAGHDAD, Iraq — U.S. warplanes pounded the insurgent stronghold of Fallujah ... on Friday, a day after the city's leaders suspended peace talks and rejected the Iraqi government's demands to turn over terror mastermind Abu Musab al-Zarqawi....

U.S. troops detained Fallujah's top negotiator in the peace talks, witnesses said. Khaled al-Jumeili, an Islamic cleric, was arrested as he left a mosque after Friday prayers in a village about 10 miles south of Fallujah, they said.

[big snip]

In Friday's operations at Fallujah, two Marine battalions were trying to "disrupt the capabilities of the anti-Iraqi forces," said Maj. Francis Piccoli, spokesman for the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force.

"The operations were designed to target the large terrorist element operating in the area of Fallujah," the U.S. command said. "This element has been planning to use the holy month of Ramadan for attacks."

Targets hit included several key planning centers, a weapons storage facility, two safe houses, a meeting site and several illegal checkpoints used by the al-Zarqawi network, the U.S. military said.

We at the FLUBA knew we had another Dumbassy nominee on the line. In the category, Fish Fish Fish, Hook, Line, Sinker...J Bradford DeLong.