The Repulsicans don’t even have respect for us, the American people, so why would they suddenly decide to respect all them furriners? Of course, you’re right, but it ain’t gonna happen as long as Chimpy&Co. are in charge.

There are roughly 3/1,000 in Iraq. With the coming “surge” it’ll probably be three and one half per one thousand - in Baghdad anyway. Until Iraqis can feel halfway safe, nothing of any consequence can occur in that beleaguered country. The professional classes who have fled by the droves will return. The practically non-existent infrastructure can begin to function again.

But of course adding hundreds of thousands of troops is impossible - unless we reinstate the draft - and that won’t happen. Is there any other recourse other than pulling out, hopefully in a well-planned retreat?

http://www.crooksandliars.com/2007/01/25/a-rumor-is-a-rumor-is-a-rumor/

That’s the path America needs to find her way out of Iraq and to find her way home. Unfortunately, we won’t take it because we’d have to give up our pride. We’re Amurikans!

Bush honestly believes that he can wage the war on ‘terror’ on a militay basis, and can fight that war in the middle east. We have been in Iraq going on 4 years and are increasing the troop level. Everyone outside the US thinks we intend to permanently occupy Iraq. Most Americans don’t believe in empire-building and therefore don’t believe our govermnent is engaged in it, despite all evidence to the contrary.

The Democrats have missed an argument that is not beyond the grasp of the average voter. Iraq is not surropunded by Iran and Syria, as Republicans would have you believe. Those dangerous Shiite regimes are to the North. Follow the country’s borders; Kuwait, who was invaded once and would prefer a stable non-aggressive Iraq, Saudi Arabia, who is Suni and could make things nasty for Iraq if they try to annex Iraq, Jordan, who is taking a huge part of the refugee problem and therefore has a huge interest in a fair settlement of the sectarian conflict so Iraqis will go home, and Turkey who will want to protect the interests of the Kurdish minority.

Keep in mind: the regional powers are not going to clean up the mess of the sectarian violence so neocons can establish regional control. We have to guarantee we will leave if we want them to engage. If they knew that the mess will fall on them; as will the full benefits of a stable Iraq, they have incentive to stabilize Iraq.

Thirteen colonies had a lot of cultural, economic and religous differences, but they found the way to make the comprimises to form a central governement that gave the new republic of states a chance to survive that they would not have as 13 weak countries.

The 6 countries surrounding Iraq are not trying to form a central government, but like the thirteen colonies they have incentive to work together because NOT stabilizing Iraq is potentially disasterous.

Whether you love her or hate her, a President Hillary Clinton would go aways toward redressing this balance, by busting the glass ceiling on the top office in the land. I know you meant your words in a more metaphysical way, but it’s past time we retired the macho adolescents who represent yang’s last gasp. HRC isn’t everything I would like - there is much to dislike - but she at least would pave the way for women to lead.