Times that try Iraqi souls

Barham Salih demonstrates that the government of Iraq understands the problems it faces and has plans to address them. At this point, if we draw down troops, the Democrats will label it a political ploy. A better choice is to stay on track.

The problem reminds me of teaching a kid to ride a bicycle without training wheels. The kid has to understand the theory, but he/she has to get the feel of balance and learn to trust him/herself. You run alongside holding the bike steady, but if you let go too soon the child may fall and be afraid to try again. If you hold on too long, you're no better than training wheels.

Reading The Shia Revival, I think that we may have to let a lot of pent up pressure bleed off, and I do mean "bleed," but Iraqis have shown the ability to live together, and I don't believe they want to become the next Lebanon, dominated by Hezbollah and Syria or Iran. I think that there's an underreported hope and pride among the Iraqi people at being the model for the rest of the Muslim world. We saw it in those purple fingers held up to cameras. That's why it would be such a shame and yet another betrayal for America to abandon them.

I wish the Republicans would put together some ads focused on showing how far we and they have come in the past three and a half years. This is a time for statesmanship and appealing to our national values, not giving in to our lesser impulses.