Bush & Cheney have created a situation which has no good outcome, none. All a rational administration can do is mitigate the damage done to the US, the Middle East and the world.

And take the blame. The price of brave people having the courage to face a situation instead of cowards denying.

Understanding the situation will help. For instance, Saudi Arabian people and money funded WTC. There wasn't an Iraqi or Afghan involved. Realizing OBL lives in Pakistan, which is the world's most active nuclear proliferator, is another example of acknowledging the world as it is. That al-Qaeda had no presence in Iraq prior to George W. Bush. Acknowledging that after 6 unfettered years in a two-bit country like Afghanistan the world's mightiest military power under a Conservative CinC has lost. Badly. The Vietnam War lasted longer and was lost as badly.

Realpolitic, not some Rambo view of the world is necessary. And there is no good solution. Bush has inserted a number of poison suppositories for the American people and they will just have to be ridden out.

By the way, Bush's plan for Iraq was to have the troop strength down to 30,000 after 6 months. Now talk to me about plans. I'm curious.

Arf