I have a theory I'd appreciate feedback on:
Bush is prolonging the war not for the good of America or even his legacy. Here's the reason. It's primarily because he knows the end of the war takes away his wartime powers. No more so-called emergency to justify warrantless spying on Americans, the Geneva violations, and the immediacy of the war excuse for all these actions and the coverups.
Our President and his buds know that a totally finished and failed war doesn't cut it as a justification/excuse. And with the war gone, it's time for the post-mortem to try to make sure it doesn't happen again.
Even if it's debatable whether Bush is smart enough to see this, at least some of his advisors are cunning enough to see that if this war ends in failure before his term is up or nearly up, they are all toast. And we know how Bush follows certain of his more ruthless advisors like a sheep.
Here is the sad fact of why this is a war that will not end until our President's term is nearly up. The President & crew will continue to risk our soldiers' butts to save their own.