The Economist opines on Bush's Iraq surge plan: "We think he is right"

As Iraqslogger points out, "The Economist magazine surprises with an endorsement of the Bush Iraq 'surge' plan."

Or, as The Economist writes, "We don't admire Mr Bush, but on this we think he is right."

"After everything that has gone so wrong, it would be foolish to argue that Mr Bush's plan is certain of success. Even if it does succeed, this would not be 'victory' in any normal sense. Iraq is likely to be violent and unstable for years to come. Contrary to what Mr Bush said this week, the dream of turning it into a democratic model for other Arabs has died.

"And yet there is much that America can still try to do to mitigate the dimensions of the debacle. At one end of the spectrum of bad consequences is a failed state, fought over by neighbours, breeding terrorism in the oil-rich centre of the Middle East. Another possibility is partition, of the sort that resulted in massive death and displacement during the independence struggles of India and Israel. Yet another is an Iraq in thrall to a nuclear-arming Iran that is increasingly hostile to Western friends and interests in the Middle East...

"For the present, Iraq still has an elected government that claims to want what America wants: security for all of Iraq's people and a power-sharing agreement that prevents the place from spinning apart or falling under the control of any neighbour. The job of holding it together remains daunting, but the Americans in Iraq have many resources, from the power of the gun to the power of the purse. The one they are running shortest of is support back home. For all his flaws, the lonely Mr Bush is right to resume the charge."