Opinion (William M. Arkin): Surge II?

Above: Soldiers of the 10th Mountain Division and 6th Iraqi Army Division are transported aboard a Chinook helicopter for an air-assault mission east of Lutifiyah last Friday.

Gen. Peter Pace, the outgoing chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, says that the Joint Chiefs may consider increasing the current level of U.S. forces in Iraq. You heard that right: Come September, we could be looking at Surge II.

Here's how it could happen: In September, Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker produce their "report" to Congress. President Bush then ponders the options. (And we know he isn't going to throw in the towel.) And then the case is made -- and there is a certain logic to it -- that keeping forces at the same or higher levels would help the U.S. and Iraq reach their goals more quickly.

So one option then would be Surge II. These guys have guts.

Read the rest at the Washington Post