RE: US 'not winning conflict in Iraq'

Over at Protein Wisdom Gates' remarks are being characterized as a "Turd in the Punch Bowl." How's that for a sterling bit of hyperbole?

Meanwhile, over at Free Republic, the bushbots are taking a short break from berating the conservatives and libertarians for not returning the GOP circus to Washington for an encore performance. There is much wailing and gnashing of teeth to be heard among the ranks of the GOP True Believers over there at the moment.

Since no one really seems to be able to define what "winning the war" means, is anyone really surprised that we're not doing whatever that is?