Almost a case-book study of mission-creep:
The trouble is that the war's rationale has become circular -- "success" means success at putting the military engagement on a sustainable basis. We're fighting for the ability to keep on fighting. But sustaining that posture keeps making the United States and our position in the world as a whole weaker and weaker.
This article available online at:
http://www.theatlantic.com/daily-dish/archive/2007/12/the-war-for-the-war/222611/
