Bill McGurn on Bob Woodward's new book, "The War Within" and the play-not-to-get-hurt incompetence of the generals in charge in Iraq until Bush found David Petraeus.

Money Q:

"When Abraham Lincoln famously sent word to Gen. George McClellan that he'd like to "borrow" the army if the general wasn't planning on using it, the commander of Union forces likely did not take it kindly. McClellan, after all, was a man whose letters home referred to Lincoln as an "idiot," "a well-meaning baboon" and other colorful language."

Read the whole thing.

Spencerblog's own favorite Lincoln line concerning his generals during the civil war came in response to being informed Ulysses S. Grant was a drunk.

"...Find out what brand of whiskey Grant drinks," Lincoln replied, "... because I want to send a barrel of it to each one of my generals."

McClellan went home to run for president as the Democratic nominee against Lincoln in 1864. He lost.)

Grant and Sherman went on to win the war.

Bottoms up!

UPDATE: For a nice and generous review of a new book by Daniel Mark Epstein about The Lincolns and their marriage click here."