The Bush administration knows "the surge" isn't working

Looking at the stories today, it seems apparent that the Bush administration has come to the realization that "the surge" isn't going to work.

First, we have the front page WaPo story this morning saying that Petraeus and the commanders in Iraq are developing a "New Strategy for War." (But... But.... I was told to wait on my criticism because this strategy wasn't fully implemented yet.)

Top U.S. commanders and diplomats in Iraq are completing a far-reaching campaign plan for a new U.S. strategy, laying out military and political goals and endorsing the selective removal of hardened sectarian actors from Iraq's security forces and government.

To me, this "new plan" sounds like a recipe for a Lebanon style government with US forces taking on the "policing Hezbullah" role. (and that's going so well...)

Next, we have this Guardian report, that White House figures are exploring ways to "internationalize" the war.

The Bush administration is developing plans to "internationalise" the Iraq crisis, including an expanded role for the United Nations, as a way of reducing overall US responsibility for Iraq's future and limiting domestic political fallout from the war as the 2008 election season approaches.

And, we should probably also add yesterday's Hearst article pointing out that the deployment schedules are structured such that there's also the availability for a substantial increase in ground combat troops.

Surge 1.0 was theorized to create some improvement in security, "a breathing space" during which the Iraqi government would rapidly resolve their political issues. That's not happening, and now it looks like different elements in the command structure are trying to set up alternatives for what to do next.

Meanwhile in Iraq....

An Iraqi parliamentary committee has failed to finalise an agreement on amending key articles in the constitution, one of the political benchmarks Washington says are important to end sectarian violence.

(And, while we're being told to wait another six months, "With eight days still to go, May 2007 caps the deadliest six-month period for America of the entire Iraq war...")