Snapshots.

Too Many Missions for Too Few Troops

"The Pentagon is beginning to resemble a desperate farmer who feeds his starving family the seed corn meant for sowing next year's crop."

An editorial appearing in the New York Times on January 2, 2005.

U.S. Forces Will Be in Iraq for Many Years

"One has to think about the numbers. I think we will be engaged with our military in Iraq for three, five, perhaps ten years." Retired General Tommy Franks, who commanded our forces during the 2003 invasion of Iraq, issued his forecast on December 9 while being interviewed on NBC's Today program.

Protecting Livestock from Wolves Gets Slightly Easier

"Under the old rule, [the wolf] had to have its teeth in; under the new rule he can be a foot away chasing them."

Fish and Wildlife Service official Ed Bangs said the expanding wolf population in the Rocky Mountain states would still be largely protected by edicts stemming from the Endangered Species Act.

Women in Iraq Safer with Heads Covered

"I put on the scarf because I wanted to walk in the street without feeling that someone will kill me or kidnap me."

An unnamed female student at Baghdad University explained the reality facing Muslims and Christians alike in the increasingly Muslim-dominated city.

Senator Prefers Swearing In

"It's better to be sworn in than sworn at."

Senator Patrick Leahy commented after taking the January 4 oath administered in the Senate by Vice President Cheney, who had aimed an expletive at the Vermont Democrat several months earlier.

Former Congressman Says Republicans and Democrats Act Alike

"A lot of people get into elected office and suddenly they're not so fond of limiting government. The same thing happens with both parties, unfortunately."

Now president of the Club for Growth, former Pennsylvania Republican congressman Pat Toomey says the group will target moderate Republicans and seek to restore fiscal responsibility.

Even Then It Was Only Talk

"The Republican revolution of 1994 was the last time we heard any serious talk of reforming the congressional pension system."

After noting that recently defeated Senator Tom Daschle will receive an annual pension of $121,233 and a potential for $5 million in pension benefits over his expected lifetime, National Taxpayers Union spokesman Pete Sepp suggested that the generous program be reconsidered.

Do Elections Negate Accountability?

"Well, we had an accountability moment, and that's called the 2004 election. And the American people listened to different assessments made about what was taking place in Iraq, and they looked at the two candidates, and chose me, for which I'm grateful." President George W. Bush answering a question from the Washington Post about why no one had been held accountable for "mistakes or misjudgments" in our Iraq policy, two days after the White House's January 12 acknowledgment that the Iraq Survey Group had ended its search for WMDs without finding any.