I'm not so sure Kerry or any other candidate for office can honestly put together a plan other than painting with very broad strokes. The months leading up to November are going to be critical in Iraq. So many things can change drastically such as an oil hub being blown up, a mosque being destroyed and no weapons or combatants found inside or, assassinations of key Iraqi coalition members. We could have another huge terrorist attack within the US. I certainly don't believe our actions overseas have made us any safer from that prospect. If someone other than Bush takes office there's no telling how Middle East or world opinion will change towards the situation there.

I think about the best Kerry can say at this time is that he won't simply leave the Iraqi people in a vacuum and allow the country to quickly fall into chaos. Whoever is the president next year will be holding a tiger by the tail with very few options. I think in the end we'll end up simply leaving in disgrace similar to Viet Nam after a few years and many deaths. I don't relish that thought at all.