Distinction without a difference.

[Angus]

Lets see. The democrats want a dead line for the Iraq government or we leave and the republicans say that we do not have an open committment of troops to the Iraqi government.

So the difference is a "deadline" that can be postponed if circumstances warrant and an unknown "deadline". If you do not have an open committment, then you have a closed one, one that in terms of time, is finite, that is limited. They just haven't told us how limited, how finite.

Well, I can see why the right calls democrats cowardly, surrender-minded, inept, disaster-mongers and see the republicans as stalwart defenders of truth, justice and the American way. Clearly, "We will leave soon" and We won't stay much longer" are policies that are light years apart where one leads to defeat and the other to glorious victory.

Reality 101:

We are leaving Iraq.

What the President has defined as victory in Iraq, a stable pro-west democracy, will not exist when we leave Iraq.

The only question is when.

Democrats say "soon" and Republicans say "pretty soon".

I can see what all the fighting is about.

[Matt]

What is going to happen if we have an announced withdrawal date? Are the Insurgents going to show up dressed nicer for their celebration?

[Angus]

What is going to happen if we have an announced withdrawal date? Are the Insurgents going to show up dressed nicer for their celebration?

Exactly. The difference between leaving unannounced and leaving announced is not much.

What do you say to the people dying between when we know it is over and when we are willing to admit openly that it is over?

[coryjd]

It is time that Iraq fights their own war. This malarkey that the Iraqi troops are not properly trained and that a democracy has not yet been fully established is for the birds. Immediate withdrawal is our only option. Time to focus our needs and resources elsewhere.