Sadly true. I´m certain the US lost the track for a military victory after WWII, that´s why I don´t believe they (and with them all the civilized Western World) would win in Iraq, why Iran would finnaly get their nuclear weapons and why China is going to defeat them when the fighting for Taiwan and the Spratley Islands breaks.The President is Commander-in chief and the President is put in the White House by the American people, or at least by those Americans who turn out to vote.
And it isn't as if they've had a lack of choice. They could have elected Barry Goldwater in 1964, or even in 1968 they could have presented the World with President George C. Wallace and Vice-President Curtis LeMay to sort out matters in Vietnam - on the other hand they could, and mercifully didn't, elect George McGovern.....
I largely agree with Karl, it is a matter of atitude and political will, it is as we have previously observed, a matter of seeking absolute victory in the way FDR saw it when his country was attacked. Even Lindburgh was able to see that.
Without leaders as FDR (or his uncle Teddy), or Winston Churchill the West will decay as Gondor in J.R.R. Tolkien "The Lord of Rings". Thinking about it I´ll send a copy of the book to Bush, maybe he could read it after losing all the East to the hands of fanatic camel drivers or chinese commies.