"Democrats Unable to Bring Troops Home" That's the risible headline that the Associated Press attaches to its account of the Democrats' so-far-unsuccessful effort to surrender to al Qaeda in Iraq.
If you think about it, it isn't easy to attempt to surrender, but fail. The best analogy I can think of is the first Gulf War, when groups of Saddam's soldiers were seen following unmanned drones with their hands in the air, in a futile effort to be taken prisoner. Little did we know then that just a few years later, a majority in Congress would try to surrender to al Qaeda at the very moment when our troops are crushing them. At least Saddam's soldiers had an excuse: they were losing.
The New York Times is in a particular hurry to surrender.
There have been some advances since President Bush sought to salvage his misadventure by sending even more troops into Iraq. Violence has declined and Al Qaeda in Iraq is said to be weaker. But Mr. Bush’s main argument for his escalation — that it would create political space for Iraqis to work together and achieve national reconciliation — has proved wrong.
Those first two sentences are unintentionally revealing. Bush's surge strategy was designed to "salvage his misadventure." I doubt very much if that was the way Bush saw it. He was trying to make sure that the U.S. wins. But that is the way the Times sees it. What is at stake for them is whether Bush wins or loses. That "violence has declined" is a concession. What it refers to is the fact that U.S. and Iraqi civilian deaths have been dramatically reduced. "Al Qaeda is said to be weaker" refers to the fact that the Iraqi tribes have turned against Al Qaeda, and that organization has been all but eradicated in Iraq. I guess that is weaker. Having achieved this, we are now supposed to throw in the towel because the Times isn't satisfied with political progress in the Iraqi government? With a much improved security situation, does it really make sense not to give this thing some more time?
The Times is quite right to warn that the good news might not last. What they are afraid of is that it will last. They want us out quick, before Bush has a chance to salvage his misadventure. That is a taste for defeat.
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