And?

WASHINGTON - The war in Iraq has now lasted longer than the U.S. involvement in the war that President Bush's father fought in, World War II. As of Sunday, the conflict in Iraq has raged for three years and just over eight months.

This breathless AP column goes on to provide a smorgasbord of nonsensical commentary on why this represents anything other than a convenient hammer to smack Bush over the head.

While the left vehemently disagrees, Iraq is part of the GWoT. Whether Bush's fault, happenstance, incompetence, co-option by others, or true all along, it doesn't matter now. The US military toppled Saddam, but forces against peace have chosen to continue the battle. Recall a few words spoken in 2001:

Americans should not expect one battle, but a lengthy campaign, unlike any other we have ever seen. It may include dramatic strikes, visible on TV, and covert operations, secret even in success. We will starve terrorists of funding, turn them one against another, drive them from place to place, until there is no refuge or no rest. And we will pursue nations that provide aid or safe haven to terrorism.

Any comparison of this war to previous wars represents a non sequitur. Israel has been fighting it since 1948. We've been at war with terrorists since the late 1970s, which is the true timeline AP should be using.

MORE 11/27/06

According to the top Marine in Iraq:

Training Iraqi Security Forces “is a long, slow process,” Conway said. “Unfortunately, I think the timeline it would take to build a fully capable, competent force – and for us to feel comfortable in stepping away – is longer than the timeline than we feel now our country will support.”

Hard to disagree. As long as "The Iraq War" is considered isolated from the war on terror the daily violence reported by the MSM, designed to sway the US public opinion, will appear utterly senseless. It's not hard to understand why most would favor leaving. The General goes on:

“Somehow I don’t think our people have made that connection and feel the same way that I do, and our troops do, that because there has not been an attack in this country is directly related to the fact that they are killing these … fanatics who would otherwise be trying to work their way in to Baltimore harbor or Los Angeles airport,” he said.

People have forgotten and it seems like Bush has given up on trying to make them remember anymore. That is, unless he's got something up his sleeve as soon as the dems take office.