Stretch, Mr. 19% Declare Surge a Failure

These two keep coming back for more. If only they pursued victory with such vigor as they do defeat, maybe they'd boost their dreadful poll numbers.

Iraq surge a failure, top Democrats tell Bush

Top US congressional Democrats bluntly told President George W. Bush Wednesday that his Iraq troop "surge" policy was a failure.

Senate Majority leader Harry Reid and House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi challenged the president over Iraq by sending him a letter, ahead of a White House meeting later on Wednesday.

"As many had forseen, the escalation has failed to produce the intended results," the two leaders wrote.

"The increase in US forces has had little impact in curbing the violence or fostering political reconciliation.

"It has not enhanced Americas national security. The unsettling reality is that instances of violence against Iraqis remain high and attacks on US forces have increased.

Nothing like fully implementing the surge itself before declaring it a failure.