Iraq War Funding - A Democratic Miscue?

I think you're definitely right about the war weariness, but the problem with that is that it always ascribes a single solution, regardless of the situation. But there's a glimmer of hope that we may finally see the chance to withdraw without things descending into chaos, and frankly, I think we owe the Iraqi people enough to see if that's the case.

It may be an unpopular stance, but I think it's the right thing to do. Frankly, a year ago, I didn't see this as a possibility. I only saw our presence as destabalizing, and hurting chances at peace. And it's entirely possible that it has done just that. Maybe if we left last year, or the year before, the violence would be over in Iraq and they would have found some sort of peace on their own. But we've come this far, and trends show significant improvements in the situation there. I think it's folly to stick with the same solution without re-evaluating it given new information (not to say you or others have), but my re-evaluation leads me to believe that given what we're seeing over there now that it's worth putting off forcing a withdrawal for a few months to see if things continue to improve.

Honestly, and I'm not attributing this to anyone in particular, I suspect there are some Democrats who are afraid of what might happen politically if we do finally succeed in winning peace over there. It would probably wipe Bush of all his past sins, and make the Republicans considerably stronger going into 2008.

Adam - I agree completely. Planning for this war was short-sighted, to say the least. But just because we shouldn't have been there, that doesn't mean that the proper course of action is necessarily to leave now that we are and have been there.

I want the US out of Iraq too, but if we can create a much more stable country by staying a few more months, then I think that's worth at least considering. And I'm not even saying that we necessarily CAN create a more stable Iraq, but there are some promising signs that shouldn't be ignored.

jfxgillis - I don't think anyone would call Iraq a complete success, but if we can leave without the predicted chaos ensuing, it won't be hard for the Republicans to spin that into a "victory." If that happens, the Democrats lose one of the biggest things they have going for them right now.

Um..."Islamic Reconciliation?"

You're right...definitely not good, and probably as likely as any other outcome, though I think the Saudis might have something to say about that...

In the "(link)" in the article, it quotes Pelosi as saying that should Bush veto this funding bill that Congress would not be sending another one this year. Assuming she sticks by this statement (perhaps a silly assumption), it will be far more hardline than the Dems have been in the past.