Iraq strategy and the problem of psychological entrapment:
[Wesleyan University psychologist Scott] Plous sees the U.S. dilemma about what military course to take in Iraq as a perfect example of psychological entrapment — on a national scale.
“What is remarkable is that the war in Iraq is a kind of super trap that has all these elements,” Plous said. “Some weeks things look better, and then they look worse and then there is a setback. What we need is to take a step back and ask, ‘If we were faced with the choice today without sunk costs, what decision would we make?’ “
