If a comprehensive plan comes out of the WH that is (a) Plausible that it might improve the situation and (b) has some indication of having something to do with reality and (c) includes troop escalation, then the Democrats should not stand in the way. I seriously doubt that (a) and (b) will be satisfied given what passes for 'planning' in this presidency, but the democrats should not be standing in blanket opposition to the troop escalation before they hear what the 'new plan' is.

For me, the notion of 'victory' in Iraq was never defined outside of fantasy jingos and unfounded irrational notions inconsistent with the current reality and history of Iraq and the area. However, I think its clear that if we depart, genocide will likely result, with a widened conflict that will draw in Iran, Saudi Arabia, Syria and possibly even Israel (and worse). Even if we stay, I think we will likely see exactly that scenario, only chronologically later- unless we revise our notions about why we are there, what we are doing, and what our aims are. Worse, our troops will be merely bobbing around on the currents of the social conflict- convinient targets for everyone. Our troops can keep the lid on the simmering pot only so long. unless we find a way to turn down a fire (a fire that we have largely pretended did not exist), then the complete breach is inevitable, and will likely be all the more violent due to our effots.

The main thing the Democrats should be doing is forging that revised view and selling it to the public- and eventually ramming it down the throat of the presedency. This hubub over 'no more troops!' strikes me as a convenient and untimately symblic gesture that will do no good ultimately to getting the US out of Iraq without a blood bath.

Truthfully, very few military leaders in this country have said 'new troops will help', and in fact the general consensus I hear is that any new troops, short of 100,000+, will be 'too little too late'. On this count, it seems that the presidency is continuing their adventures beyond the looking glass. For both sides to go to war over something that is seen by most to be ultimately be irrelevant to success/failure in Iraq is a dis-service to the american people. However, most of the governance we have had over the last 6 years has been a dis-service to the american people, so nothing new.

DL