Not to mention "cynical".

The job is to rid Iraq of WMD.

Oh. No, it wasn't.

The job is to stabilize Iraq.

But we have a departure date of this coming July, and the place is far from stable. Does that mean we stay, regardless of who is running for re-election in November?

The job is to establish a democratic government in a major Middle Eastern nation.

See "departure date", above. This will not happen by July. It will take years to restore order. If the UN says Iraq is not ready, now that we have invited them back, will we call them names again because they said something we didn't like?

It's beginning to look as if democracy is more likely to appear spontaneously in Iran, where they at least have a history of it, however short that history was. An Iranian democracy would be something to see. The Persians are smart, sophisticated, strategically located, with a long and illustrious national history, and very independent-minded. They would not be America's friends, however, even though we could expect them to work with us if it were in their interest.

Is the job now to prop up an interim government, cross our fingers, declare victory and get the hell out of there? Where does that leave the Iraqis? Where does that leave us? It would certainly make our name easier to spell: M.U.D.

It sounds like you would like a relationship with Iraq that closely resembles the one we currently have with our very oldest ally:

If the Iraqis French respect and accept whatever leadership and government they choose for themselves, and end up with a system that respects human rights and rejects terrorism and expansionism, then frankly I don't really give a rat's ass what they end up thinking of Americans. One hopes that they at least retain a sense of neutrality toward us, if not friendship, but you take what you can get.

I really do care what the rest of the world thinks of Americans. I want them to buy our goods and not shoot at my children when they travel abroad. I want them to look at our wonderful Constitution and admire it for its splendid ideals and remarkable pragmatism. I want them not to look at us across the negotiating table and think "Hypocrites" and "Fair-Weather Friends". I take pride in our self-selected role as a beacon of hope, and I believe in that role.

Hope doesn't take its ball and go home. Hope is tougher than that.

Regards--
Mary Anne