The War Comes Home
Seething anger--and looming new doubts
Democrats don't seem to have viable alternatives to Bush's agenda, either at home or in Iraq. Yet so far, this lack of Democratic alternatives isn't giving Bush much of a boost. "Americans don't know what to do about Iraq, other than being angry with the Bush administration for not knowing what to do about it," says Democratic pollster Geoff Garin. "Iraq is constantly in the background as a source of disappointment and discontent." This is one factor giving Democrats an 8-point lead over Republicans in generic matchups on whom voters prefer to represent them in Congress--not exactly a good omen for the GOP heading into the 2006 midterm elections.
Yet despite all the problems, Bush seems more assured and serene than ever. "The re-election really freed him up," says a confidant. "He had felt weighted down because he felt the burden of winning a second term because his father couldn't do it. Now that he's won, he's less concerned about the political ramifications of things."
With one big exception. Bush is eager for a Republican to succeed him in the White House, which he would consider the final validation of his presidency. This eagerness, friends say, may cause him to pay more attention to the growing discontent in the country and to demonstrate a new flexibility--even in Iraq.
U.S. Military Death Toll in Iraq
Iraq has passed important political milestones since President Bush declared the end of "major combat operations," but at a growing cost of U.S. military lives.
Cumulative U.S. military fatalities* in Iraq (Monthly casualties)
*reflects both hostile and non-hostile deaths
March 20, 2003 through August 19, 2005: 65 (65), 176 (37), 254 (48), 319 (30), 445 (82), 532 (47), 602 (50), 817 (80), 913 (54) 1,059 (81), 1,259 (137), 1,437 (106) 1,531 (36), 1,663 (80) 1,857 (63)
March 20, 2003: War begins
May 1, 2003: End of "major combat operations"
Dec. 13, 2003: Saddam Hussein captured
June 28, 2004: Sovereignty returned to Iraqis
November 2004: U.S. military offensive against insurgents in Fallujah
Jan. 30, 2005: Iraqi elections held
Source: AP
Graphic by USN&WR
With Kevin Whitelaw and Mike Tobin
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