Rummy, Bus. Bus, Rummy.

Today on Capital Hill the commander of U.S. forces in the Middle East went before the lame-duck Senate Armed Services Committee and reaffirmed to the American people that their vote rang hollow and full speed a-quagmire is the course the Administration is staying on. However, if a silver lining needs to be had, at least nobody is protecting Rummy's hide from being thrown under a troop-level bus.

In response to questions from Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) and McCain, Abizaid acknowledged that the United States should have sent more troops into Iraq to carry out an effective occupation immediately after deposing the government of Saddam Hussein, as advocated shortly before the U.S. invasion by Gen. Eric K. Shinseki, then the Army chief of staff. Shinseki told the Senate Armed Services Committee in February 2003 that "something on the order of several hundred thousand soldiers" would be needed for the occupation, an estimate that drew rebukes from Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld and his then-deputy, Paul D. Wolfowitz.

Asked by Graham whether Shinseki was correct, Abizaid said, "General Shinseki was right that a greater international force contribution, U.S. force contribution and Iraqi force contribution should have been available immediately after major combat operations." [emphasis me]

And, if you want to pull more happy out of today's hearing, another silver lining can be found here.