The shift was articulated this week in Washington by Gen. David Petraeus, who told Congress that “unchecked, the special groups pose the greatest long-term threat to the viability of a democratic Iraq.”

Before, American commanders have called al-Qaida the greatest threat.

There is little doubt that Shiite extremists fighting U.S. and Iraqi forces have received Iranian weapons, although Iran’s government denies supplying them.

But Petraeus’ comments obscure the fact that the United States has waded into a monumental power struggle within the majority Shiite community — and crucially, that both sides in that struggle, not just the “special groups,” maintain close ties to Iran.

Bush and the boys have just got to keep the landscape of war ever changing to keep their hold on the situation. Sorry, but Bush, Patraeus and others are playing a dangerous and lethal game with the lives of American service people. Sad part is that McCain will play the same game with the same results. IMO, I am not too sure that either of the Democratic candidates will do anything different.

The American voter has control of this situation, but will they exercise their desires or just go back to the “good old days” of voting for the popular candidate not the one that would actually do something constructive about Iraq.