STAYING THE COURSE

Two great columns today from David Brooks and Max Boot. I second both. I don’t think withdrawal of any troops is an option in the current presidential term (I think we need more troops, not fewer); and we need, as Max says, to do a far better job of securing the borders. But we have an absolute moral obligation to stand by those Iraqis who risked their lives to vote last January; and the president needs to do a far better job of being honest with the American people about the huge commitment still required for several years to make this a (by no means assured) success. His policy of Pollyannaish platitudes has failed. And if he doesn’t turn around American public opinion on this, we will lose.