That is good news, Tom. We're finally doing what we should have done 2 years ago. It's very sad that so many US troops and Iraqis have been wounded and killed because we did not do those things then.

W. also spoke Monday as to goals and when we'll leave, but it was a very awkward statement that he needs to have his speech writers work on. It did not make it past the serial killer's confession and on to the airwaves:

"The key to success in Iraq is for the Iraqis to be able and capable of defending their democracy against terrorists," Bush said Monday, then turned to what has been the signature achievement of the conflict that began in Baghdad more than two years ago. "Parallel with the security track is a political track. Obviously, the political track has made progress this year when 8 million people went to the polls and voted."

Not to criticze his speech writers or policy analysts, but how about: "I am going to bring our troops home, all of our troops home, just as soon as the job in Iraq is done. Success in Iraq will be when they have a democratic government which includesall Iraqis: Shia, Sunni and Kurd; and an army capable of defending that government against terrorists."

Of course, that's just a first attempt, but the statment needs to be something simple that addresses the big issues in a clear way. W. needs to say something simple and clear like that to the American people, and to the Iraqi people, and he needs to do it now, as many times as it takes for the message to get through.