Hi Mike,

Progress comes slow. There has been progress in a lot of areas but I know what you mean.

>I agree with you a fixed date for withdrawal doesn't make sense. But if our goal is a "stable, multiethnic government in Iraq" we could be there forever. We have been pursuing that end for over three years and if anything things are worse now than they were when we went in. There is a puppet government that is not respected. Sectarian violence continues on a daily basis. You can't move around without fear of getting your a** blown up anywhere near Baghdad. How do we even claim progress in such circumstances?
>
>
>>The mission is to have a stable, multiethnic government in Iraq. It ends when we're pretty sure that can happen without us.
>>
>>I dunno, seems pretty clear to me that Bush has made that statement on his mission - repeatedly. Do you read the news? What wasn't clear? Or is this a case of not liking what you're hearing so you cover your ears and refuse to hear it?
>>
>>But I digress.
>>
>>Setting a date for withdrawal rather than setting a milestone for the same is just stupid and hazardous. And if you can't see why that's so then it's beyond my ability to explain simple logic to you.
>>
>>
>>>>>Forget the polls: Common sense dictates that our troops should leave only when local forces
>>>>>can stabilize the region. I don't understand this move to dictate a date for withdrawal. Makes
>>>>>no sense; unless, of course, you are so anti-war and anti-Bush that you'd rather see a nonsensical
>>>>>retreat than to see the mission carried out to it's end.
>>>
>>>What is the mission? When is its end?
>>>
>>>Neither of these 2 queastions has answeres the Bush camp can readily provide.
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>Polls are a wonderful thing, eh?
>>>>
>>>>Actually, they are meaningless unless they are posited scientifically.
>>>>
>>>>Unfortunately, many pollsters are hired to promote an agenda and the questions are phrased in a way that the respondent is trapped into an answer that doesn't reflect his or her thoughts.
>>>>
>>>>Forget the polls: Common sense dictates that our troops should leave only when local forces can stabilize the region. I don't understand this move to dictate a date for withdrawal. Makes no sense; unless, of course, you are so anti-war and anti-Bush that you'd rather see a nonsensical retreat than to see the mission carried out to it's end.
>>>>
>>>>>>Anyone with any sense can see that there is a constitutionally elected government operating in Iraq despite the Democrats' attempts to say that the whole thing is a failure and that civil war is inevitable. Most Americans can see it for what it is and not for how the liberals want to paint it.
>>>>>
>>>>> 58% disapprove of GWB performance
>>>>> 61% disapprove of GWB foreign policy
>>>>> 61% disapprove of GWB handling of Iraq
>>>>> 52% say military casualties & cost not worth removing saddam
>>>>> 53% say decision to attack iraq was the wrong decision
>>>>> 57% say US should reduce # of troops 35% say maintain troop levels
>>>>>
>>>>>I take it that no one should count you in the 58, 61, 61, 52, 53, or 57%. Please report back in 6 months on what corner we just turned over there.