Gideon Rose lists the many rear guard exposures the current administration has made in its singleminded rush to war. These include, of course, the botched diplomacy with both Turkey and the UN. But also on the list are ignoring the judgement of the CIA, the professional recommendations of the armed forces, and the State Department.

All this, and not simply a few unexpected guerrilla attacks in Iraq, is the background to the soft support the administration's war management has received to date. The saddest part of the story is that it didn't have to be this way. A less cocky, less high-handed, and less deceptive approach to war might actually have won over many doubters, not simply forced them into temporary submission. But having given no quarter along the way, the Bush crowd should hardly be surprised now when they receive none in return.