Bush's Stab-In-The-Back Theory

Excellent piece from Sidney Blumenthal - The politics of protection:

President Bush's political strategy at home is an implicit if unintended admission of the failure of his military strategy in Iraq and toward terrorism generally. Betrayal is his theme, delivered in his speeches, embroidered by his officials and trumpeted by the brass band of neo-conservative publicists.

How did it happen that "Al-Qaida in Iraq", sworn enemy of Saddam Hussein and his secularism, operating in isolation prior to 9/11 (though almost certainly with the connivance and protection of Kurdish leader and current Iraqi president, Jalal Talabani), has come to thrive under the United States occupation? And since al-Qaida in Iraq represents perhaps 1% or less of the insurgent strength, how can it be depicted as the main foe, capable of seizing state power? The other Sunni insurgent groups increasingly view it as an impediment to their own ambitions and have marked it for elimination. Rather than address these problematic complexities, Bush points the finger of blame at US senators who dare to question his policy. "Those who justify withdrawing our troops from Iraq by denying the threat of al-Qaida in Iraq and its ties to Osama bin Laden ignore the clear consequences of such a retreat."...