party like it's 1967

As if things weren't feeling Vietnamy enough, this from The Guardian:

President George Bush has told senior advisers that the US and its allies must make "a last big push" to win the war in Iraq and that instead of beginning a troop withdrawal next year, he may increase US forces by up to 20,000 soldiers, according to sources familiar with the administration's internal deliberations.

I am very much afraid that this logic will be echoed from some of the new Democratic members of congress, particular in the Senate. Phased withdrawal must remain the mantra from our side of the aisle. The repetitious promise of “One last big push” is how the political class locked the country into escalation in the war in Vietnam.
If progressives can achieve one thing over the next two years, it will be to put enough pressure on Democrats to hold the line against escalation. This will take willingness to be vocal and critical. It will also take the ability to mobilize on the ground with enough success that there is a majority of votes behind staying the course…to get out of Iraq. We have to do both. One without the other will fail.