Thomas P.M. Barnett

ARTICLE: Americans Say U.S. Is Losing War: Public, Politicians Split on Iraq Panel's Ideas,
By Peter Baker and Jon Cohen, Washington Post, December 13, 2006; Page A01

The news that most Americans think we're losing is both telling and sad. Telling because it means we're losing this 4GW struggle. Sad because we've not educated our own citizens as to what "victory" would look like. Obviously, it wouldn't look like Iraq does now, but it won't look that terribly different for a while either, because as we learned in the Balkans, some blood-letting and some self-separation is inevitable.

Truth is, as ugly as the Balkans were, that's "victory"--plain and real. And no, it doesn't look like V-E or V-J day. In fact, victory comes years after the last acts of mass violence have ended (during which time countless scores are settled on an individual basis--either legally or extra-legally).

But Americans define victory in this context as one thing: our deaths end and we leave. Done fast, it's victory, no matter how meaningless the outcome. Done slow, it's a loss no matter what good is achieved.

Is that unrealistic? Sure. But we like our wars like our movies: clear winners and clear losers and all wrapped up within our 24-hour media cycle.