I'd be interested to know, if this eventually succeeds (this election is only another step on the way), how long Iraq would have to be a free country before the idea that "we should never have gone there in the first place" starts to sound a bit weak?

My prediction is that a few years down the road, the liberation of Iraq will be seen as a great success, but the story will be that Bush screwed it up, and that the Democrats would have invaded with more troops and won the war faster and with fewer casualties. I'm already seeing this kind of thing start in a few places.

The final stage in the acceptance of an idea: "We knew it was a good idea all along."

It's not that easy to find leftists any more who will admit that they spent the entire Cold War kissing communist butt wherever they could.

I see Iraq as being, for some years, the kind of political zoo that Italy was for many years after the war. You think watching British parliament in session is entertaining, wait for the Iraqis. Somehow, the Italians managed. Iraq stands a good chance, too.

Remember, the only alternative offered by the anti-war people was the status quo.