As for Iraq... Since 2003: Chirac and Villepin are gone, replaced by Sarkozy l'Americain; Schroeder is gone, replaced by Merkel; Prodi has come and gone, and Burlesconi is back in the hot seat; Colin Powell is gone, with his misgivings; Rumsfeld was sacrificed in 2006; it seems Bush won. A vivid image of what should exist acts as a surrogate for reality. Pursuit of the image then prevents pursuit of the reality -- John K. Galbraith