I was originally going to write another post about the cost of the ongoing occupation of Iraq, but two people far more important than I am have written things you should read instead.

First, bask in the calm brilliance that is Keith Olbermann’s response to the president’s recent comments on Vietnam.   If you didn’t catch it, Mr. Bush went to Vietnam and told the American public the lesson he thinks he’s learned from that long, bloody mess: “We’ll succeed unless we quit.”  (No, I’m not making this up.)

Second, take part in what might prove to be the antidote to such bloody-minded idiocy.  Senator Barbara Boxer has created an online petition calling for the president to begin redeploying U.S. troops out of Iraq now.  (Emphasis hers.)  I usually advise against Internet petitions because they don’t have any teeth, but this one is different.  It’s being sponsored by an official representative with some real power (especially now), so it has at least some chance of being heard.  There’s more information in her press release about the petition, which makes some compelling arguments itself.

So read Keith to get fired up, then go do something about it.