Iraq

AAAhrg! William E. Odom has an opinion in the LATimes today saying we should "Get out now".

American public opinion is decidedly against the war; even in the "red states," more than half of Americans want out. That sentiment is understandable.

The prewar dream of a liberal Iraqi democracy friendly to the United States is no longer credible. No Iraqi leader with enough power and legitimacy to control the country will be pro-American. Still, President Bush says the United States must stay the course. Why? Let's consider his administration's most popular arguments for not leaving Iraq.

First off - I don't believe I've yet read an opinion poll saying that American public opinion wants us to get out now. Yeah - get out, eventually. But now? I don't think so.
And who says the prewar dream of a liberal Iraqi democracy is no longer credible?

He then lines up all the reasons we should stay and explains why they aren't good reasons. In not one does he note that we promised we'd stay as long as they asked us to. He doesn't mention that we have an obligation to stay since we did basically start this business of democratizing Iraq. He doesn't mention that the govt there is probably finally going to be formed this very frigging weak. He doesn't mention the idiotic pleading of Zarqawi that went on last week that basically is a strong indicator of his support there. He doesn't mention that the Iranians have been infiltrating the country and that by staying in Iraq we are at least able to keep a closer eye on Iran. He states that the Iraqi military can't come up with who they support when that is on a macro level bullshit.
I wish I had a better memory for where I read things, or the time to re-research...actually, you know what? I'll be home tonight to better refute this dude.
grrrr