A few years ago I went back and read over my columns from just after 9/11. I'd thought I was softer about going to war in Afghanistan, but I was actually angrily resigned to it all. I knew we were going to beat up on somebody, but I wasn't happy about it.

I wasn't for the war at all. I never really have been. I think there have been times when I thought there was more sense in fighting in Afghanistan than Iraq. If it was a question of the lesser of two evils, that would be the evil I'd take. But I'm not for the war. And I like different, smaller, evils myself.

But all these freaking wars--however many we might be fighting--I have to say I'm against. Forever and ever, amen.

I knew, however, that Obama would not be pulling out before "success" is achieved. Whatever that success looks like (and will we recognize it?). There were brief flashes over the last couple of months when I thought maybe he'd pull the plug on the whole thing, but these were quick and ephemeral. And probably just in my head--not his.

I'm a peacenik. I guess there's a reason for the armed services, but doesn't it seem like it's more for our psychological benefit rather than a real deterrent? It's my big dick theory. If you think you have one, don't you feel a lot better about yourself? No matter how bad life is getting, at least I've got a big dick.

Having more nukes than the USSR certainly made us feel like we were the better people. But the cold war was really won because we had a wider availability of toilet paper than they did. Which means it comes down to actual quality of life (and the hope that things will always get better!), rather than how big the dick is. Those Russians, y'know, they can be quite big dicks themselves.

And yet, I still wonder why we're so afraid of everyone if we have a stronger, bigger armed forces and way more toilet paper than everyone else. We should be feeling pretty good about our many different kinds of ways to wipe our ass. And yet, this is not comforting to many.

I'm disappointed with the decision to send more troops instead of extracting them. We don't really talk about Iraq much anymore, but we're still fighting there too. Remember when we weren't really fighting hot wars? It's been a while. And I don't think the world changed on us as much as we changed ourselves.

I think it was sometime before the election last year when my mantra was "Well, I don't think he'll start any more wars" when it came to Obama.

But now it's feeling a lot like Clinton. That somewhere along the way to doing all the things we wished he'd do, he went and tried to do the things he knew he wanted to. And then got all bogged down in the muck.

All of this would be fine if it was just the Obama's supporters who weren't so keen about continuing a war we wished was over a long time ago (let alone even get started).

But now the people who were totally gung ho for kicking ass wherever and whenever are now wondering if they really want us to keep fighting.

Is it because they are against war? Suddenly sprouted doves wings? That we should fight the Pakistanis instead? Or the people who live in between the two? Am I asking too many questions? Why didn't we ask more questions back in 2003?

All good queries. Now the hippies are the people who bought a hell of a lot of flags in the months after 9/11. And bought a lot of guns after Obama was elected. And stopped buying the Dixie Chicks. Most of those people are against the war now.

And it's because their guy didn't win.

If McCain and bat shit-crazy Palin were running things, hell, all those people would be for doubling down on Afghanistan. And, by the by, McCain is for this surge. Palin is, well, still bat shit crazy (and this craziness is contagious; just talk to the people standing in line for her book signings).

But with this other guy in charge...they're suddenly doves.

And this makes me feel a little dirty. I don't want to agree with these people. Even if it's just for the overall (no war!) and not for the details of why. Because adding fuel to their fire makes it seem like they won. And I thought we won the last election.

Why can't I ever be a winner?

Matt Worley thinks Charlie Wilson's War is hilarious.