The prosecution would like to separate the motive from the act. Well, that's like trying to take the core from an apple without breaking the skin.

David Reinhard writes in yesterday's Big O-

Of course, it's early yet. The surge of U.S. troops won't be complete until late spring, and the enemy will react and have his bloody say. Of course, Qanbar is invested in the crackdown's success. But these and other signs of progress suggest this new "last chance" strategy has a chance of success. Good news, unless you're somehow invested in the new strategy's failure. That is, if you can even bring yourself to acknowledge there is a new strategy.

Oh sure there's a new strategy and it's working great, Dave-

7 U.S. soldiers killed in Iraq, 4 in one incident.