Exit Strategy

[Undertoad]

You called me out so I feel like I should have a response here. But I doubt I have enough good information to figure it out.

The Iraqi bloggers give you a good idea of how their own neighborhoods are, and how they feel, but they don't give a good view of the big picture.

But I do think that, having started this thing, it's totally critical to see it through and to do everything possible to nation-build the country that the majority of Iraqis want it to be, and to not allow it to become a fascist regime again. (Kerry agrees BTW) If it took the deaths of 5,000 troops, that would be too much, but it shouldn't take that.

The UN can't help and anyone who wants to send them in is posturing, including the President. The UN were the first to pack up and leave at the first sign of difficulty. They could have shown resolve and hardened their facilities but instead they packed up and ran. The UN was responsible for the corrupt oil-for-food program and the average Iraqi does not have a good opinion of the UN right now.