It didn't work

One can't doubt that the American objective in Iraq has failed. The same edition of the paper quotes a fellow of the American Enterprise Institute. Mr. Reuel Marc Gerecht backed the American intervention. He now speaks of the bombing of the especially sacred Shiite mosque in Samarra and what that has precipitated in the way of revenge. He concludes that "the bombing has completely demolished" what was being attempted -- to bring Sunnis into the defense and interior ministries.

Our mission has failed because Iraqi animosities have proved uncontainable by an invading army of 130,000 Americans. The great human reserves that call for civil life haven't proved strong enough. No doubt they are latently there, but they have not been able to contend against the ice men who move about in the shadows with bombs and grenades and pistols.

William F. Buckley

This is the beginning of the end for Bush (and, hopefully, the neo-cons). Two things will be interesting to note: the vindictiveness of the backlash against Buckley from the Pubbie Kool-aid drinkers, and the spin of the neo-con machine to downplay these unequivocal remarks by the godfather of American conservatism.

Addendum

After re-reading this, it seems more like an opening salvo in the neo-con repudiation of Bush as their front man. His blatant socialism, schizophrenic positions on border security, and open love for the aristocratic peerage have become increasingly untenable for the neo-con apologists. His inept fumbling of the Katrina, Harriet Miers, and now the P&O buyout issues have to be embarrasing to the NRO cheering squad. Buckley is citing a failure in execution, not a failure of policy. Don't be surprised to see the neo-con punditry to move toward a stance of blaming Bush, directly or indirectly for an agenda misfire. 2006 to 2008 will see a lame duck administration of possibly Wilsonian proportions.