Post-Election Thoughts

 What happened on Election Day?

It boils down to this:
The Democrats said: “Had enough?”
The Republicans said: “It could be worse!”
The voters said: “Let's find out.”

Over at the U.N. Republican losses were evidently celebrated (with American tax dollars) and of course Ahmadinejad and his friends must be very pleased.

A few days ago, Hassan Nasrallah told Al-Jazeera audiences (translation courtesy of MEMRI):

The Americans will gather their belongings and leave this region – the entire region. They have no future whatsoever in our region. They will leave the Middle East, and the Arab and Islamic worlds, like they left Vietnam. I advise all those who place their trust in the Americans to learn the lesson of Vietnam, and to learn the lesson of the South Lebanese Army with the Israelis, and to know that when the Americans lose this war — and lose it they will, Allah willing — they will abandon them to their fate, just like they did to all those who placed their trust in them throughout history.

One more thing: This election was not all about Iraq, as some observers, at home and abroad, appear to believe. Yes, there is enormous frustration across the political spectrum over faulty intelligence, flawed military strategies and tactics, the absence of meaningful metrics, the continuing failure to wage either an effective counter-insurgency or an effective “war of ideas.” But voters have not sent a message that they want the U.S. to surrender to Saddam loyalists, al-Qaeda terrorists and other assorted thugs. How do we know? By one of the few bright spots last night: Joe Lieberman's crushing defeat of the left-wing-blogger favorite Ned Lamont. I would suggest that before too many hours roll by, President Bush should call Lieberman, congratulate him, and tell him that he looks forward to working with him and other Democrats (e.g. Representatives Steny Hoyer and Jim Marshall) who understand what's at stake in Iraq and in the broader war against Militant Islamism.