DANIEL HENNINGER ON THE POLITICS OF IRAQ: “Arguably it is the proper role of politics to intervene, to question. But during Vietnam and again now, we haven’t been able to avoid simultaneously putting troops on the battlefield while fighting bitterly amongst ourselves at home for the length of the war. The U.S. officer corps is aware of this. While no one is talking about a stab in the back, they may conclude that the home front and its institutions are unable to, or will not, protect their back.”

The problem is that our political and journalistic classes lack sufficient patriotism to promote self-discipline, or perhaps sufficient self-discipline to allow them to act patriotically.

On the other hand, here’s some important post-Vietnam progress, demonstrating that the troops have managed to improve even as the political class has deteriorated. Though there are troubling aspects to that differential.

UPDATE: Henninger’s column inspired some lengthy thoughts from reader Scott Wallace, which to some degree parallel my own worries. Click “read more” to read them.