Kevin Drum ably picks apart Andrew Sullivan's lament that while he doesn't think we can win in Iraq (especially with the crew in charge) and although things appear to be getting worse not better that nonetheless he can't support the alternative because things could get worse.  What's interesting is that this was the gist of John McCain's speech on the floor of the Senate the other day as well and as I listened to a clip on the radio I was struck by the notion that we are going to continue on the present untenable course not for any obvious hope of success, but so that those who brought us to this point and who shamelessly play politics with our foreign policy and national security can somehow feel that they've saved face in some inexplicable way.  Billions of dollars, thousands dead, unaddressed threats around the globe and a failed state in the heart of the Middle East for lord knows how long not so that we will avoid dishonoring the sacrifice of so many young Americans and Iraqis,  but so the current Administration and its lock-step supporters in Congress can avoid bruising their outsized egos.  That's just wrong. 

They don't have a plan, never have, nor have supporters of our failed policy offered to rethink our involvement and formulate a practical framework for making this enterprise actually succeed.  Instead they choose to engage in decrepit "stab in the back" type metaphors and empty platitudes about freedom and democracy at cheap political photo-ops and meaningless legislative debates while the President has already decided that he's going to let his successor sort this all out?  No one's asking what either the American or Iraqi people want.  After all what's our policy if the Iraqi government suddenly says take off, we don't want you here anymore or, heaven forbid, asks us to negotiate a timetable for withdrawal, what then?  Is it okay or do we stay the course regardless?  Sadly, America deserves so much better.  What a waste...