READ THIS

Most important Paul Krugman column ever.

(Read it free here.)

I have only one thing to add. Krugman writes:

Here's what will definitely happen when Gen. David Petraeus testifies before Congress next week: he'll assert that the surge has reduced violence in Iraq -- as long as you don't count Sunnis killed by Sunnis, Shiites killed by Shiites, Iraqis killed by car bombs and people shot in the front of the head.

Here's what I'm afraid will happen: Democrats will look at Gen. Petraeus's uniform and medals and fall into their usual cringe. They won't ask hard questions out of fear that someone might accuse them of attacking the military. After the testimony, they'll desperately try to get Republicans to agree to a resolution that politely asks President Bush to maybe, possibly, withdraw some troops, if he feels like it.

Here's what I’m afraid will happen: Most Democrats will cringe, just as Krugman predicts, but the occasional tough question will be asked -- and the press will already be so far in the Petraeus-hero-worship tank that (with the help of a GOP character-assassination campaign that's already planned and ready for just such occurrences) the tough questioner or questioners will be tried in the media and found guilty of unspeakable decorum breaches as well as treason. And that will be the story: Dirty hippie Democrats still hate the military, just like in the old days.

(Cross-posted at Too Sense.)