But I also think that our objectives, in as much as they have actually been stated, are still grounded in ideology and fantasy. We need to refocus on what we can do to preserve some sort of functioning society in Iraq that will not (a) decay into genocide and (b) not spark a wider conflict that would further destabilize the region.

The calls to 'get out- PERIOD!' are irresponsible, however- the administration (and others like McCain) can't and should not use the horrific outcomes of simply leaving as a whip to force the american people and government to support an ill-defined, unrealistic, foolish and poorly conceived war.

I'll say this yet again: The Democrats and whats left of the responsible factions of the American Right must sit down and formulate a realistic and viable set of aims- and then they need to get the american people on board and bring the Execuive to heel.

If we don't do this, if we leave Iraq to go to hell and drag the midlle-east with them, we'll lose yet another chunk of our soul as a country- and we've already lost a lot in this fiasco.

DL