In order to get out of this mess, America has to put more authority in the hands of Iraqis just as soon as is practically possible and accept that what Iraqis want for their future government may not be exactly what Washington wants. The United States should also resist the temptation to force a market economy upon Iraq too quickly, to avoid the economic chaos that happened in Russia when communism fell.

Rumsfeld mentions in practically every news conference that we are, in fact, proceeding full-tilt with putting Iraqis in charge of Iraq's defense. He follows with details of how this is being done. Why people keep talking as though this is not being done is a mystery. Greenway's contempt for market economies is not much of a mystery. Free markets are not "forced" on people. They are permitted.

Iraq also needs to be internationalized as quickly as possible, which is still being resisted by a Bush administration that needs money from the international community but doesn't want to relinquish authority. There needs to be a UN mandate and a much broader coalition for Iraq's transitional authority.

The only hope for Iraq, and for that matter the war on terrorism, is for American power to be exercised in concert with allies and other countries that have an interest in peace and stability. Otherwise, no matter how hard we Americans try, the behinder we will get.

Again, I am flabbergasted by this constant refrain. If someone can tell me what would be strategically changed right now if U.N. troops were in Iraq instead of American ones, please let me know. As far as I can tell, the guerillas would have no problems shooting at French and German troops.

If he means that turning it over to the U.N. would end the conflict, he might be right. U.N. takes over. Somebody shoots at them. U.N. flees shrieking like little girls. Baathists win. Presto, end of conflict.

Liberals cling to the myth of the United Nations like a kid to a teddy bear. On the other hand, it may be the old collectivist faith that nothing is impossible if you do it as a mob. Or that nothing is forbidden.