ARTICLE: Gates Ties Iraq Push to Drawdown: Successful Troop Boost Could Mean Withdrawal Starting by Year's End, He Says, By Josh White and Ann Scott Tyson, Washington Post, January 13, 2007; Page A01

Some telegraphing here by Gates: by end of year, expect Bush team to admit some version of failure with heavy blame on Iranian meddling (and there will be plenty, which will be progressively "discovered!" as year unfolds in a series of "disturbing revelations" that "no one could have seen coming!"--hence no blame assessed within administration), as White House gears up strong sale (already being pushed by GOP hawks on Hill) for military strikes against Tehran. The basic game plan? A new splendid little war to divert attention from numbers 1 (Afghanistan-bleeding-into -Pakistan) and 2 (Iraq collapsing in on itself).

Problem? Our only ally this time will be Israeli hawks.