If it's really a fight for our way of life and our civilization, etc., then we shouldn't be messing around. If we could win WWII in 4 years, we should have been able to do what it takes to have a reasonably peaceful Baghdad and Basra in the 3.5+ years we've been there.

But I don't know that there's the will to do what it takes at this point.

[link|http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/24/AR2006102400909.html|Kagan] makes some good points in his OpEd, but the larger question of why it's in our national interest to ratchet up our involvement to cover for Bush's mistake isn't convincingly answered IMO. Staying too long may well have worse consequences than leaving too early.

Cheers,
Scott.