I never thought it would happen to me. I've become a wonk. I read the front page and the editorial page first. I rarely get to the business page. I skim the sports section. But I do the crossword puzzle...at least I try.

I can't tell whether it's a function of age or the environment ( the political one, that is.) I find myself arguing with people I don't know...gently, but firmly. I have to restrain myself sometimes from talking to strangers who say things that I find objectionable. I see bumper stickers and there is an urge to knock on the window and ask if the driver really believes 'that'.

First and foremost for me is the war in Iraq. As I watch the events unfold, I sometimes think I am watching a Kafka play. Am I the only person who can see this for what it is? What possesses otherwise intelligent people to latch onto shreds of truth to make silly arguments. For example, I heard a writer this morning telling Chris Matthews that Saddam Hussein provided aid to the people who flew into the World Trade Center. The source for that nonsense was a quote from a Judge who was hearing a case someone filed against Saddam Hussein (and I'm paraprhasing) that said..."Saddam Hussein provided aid to the people who flew into the World Trade Center."
Every, or nearly every administration official (except perhaps for the Vice President but he is so irrelvant, I don't count him) has ackowledged that there was no connection between SD and the WTC perpetrators. This fellow would not let it go...and insisted that it was accurate and thus a good reason not only to have invaded Iraq but was a good reason for staying.

Maybe I was watching Alice in Wonderland, not Kafka.

By any account, we will have troops committed to Iraq for well into the future. We know the ending to this movie and it's awful, ugly and will upset us. But we keep watching. No one has the nerve to hit the stop button.

I suspect 2008 will bring a new thought process to the situation, though. And sadly, it won't be the concern for the troops or an intellectual awakening. It will be November 2008 and the foreboding that it brings to the 535 members of Congress. Well, actually 435 House Members and 33 Senators who have to run for election. Not one of them wants to face us next Fall if there isn't a clear path to bringing those people home to their families. If you're reading this, you know in your gut that I'm right. The one motivation for our elected officials to do something is an election.