Would have, should have, could have...it may be too late now; and even if it's not too late, it may be impossible to continue this progress for a long enough time for it to bear fruit. Can we do this without the surge and without the Brits?

One story in the NYT does not mean a turning point, but if these continue coming in from sources like this who have no axe to grind (especially from former critics), perhaps there is some hope. But I'm sorry, I just don't trust the administration and its supporters any more, even if they suddenly started telling the truth. We should have been reading these stories a couple of years ago, from multiple sources. I don't doubt this account is credible, but is it localized or representative of large parts of the country? Are things getting better all over or is this just one place, one time? And if it is good news, do we dare risk further committment for the indefinite time it may take to fully turn things around? Was victory this easy and we just pissed it away for no reason but saving Rumsfeld's face?

I didn't turn against the war overnight, it took time, and it's going to take time for me to turn around again, and much more news like this to convince me. And time is running out. Would have, should have, could have...it will be the final bitter irony of this war if we give up just before we win it. But if it takes longer than the end of 2008 to find out I'm not willing to continue. I'm willing to hang on until the election, and then no more. I realize that may not be enough time to give this new policy a fair shake, but I have had enough, I don't want to continue this any longer for what might turn out to be just another false hope.