What are these “political factors” of which you speak, Mr. Obama? Surely you do not mean to imply there has been political reconciliation of a kind the Democrats have consistantly until now said has not occurred.

It seems some people believe good things merely happen. Or happen due to the good graces of others, and have little or nothing to do with our own efforts. Nancy Pelosi believes the problem of Sadr and the Shi-ite militias was resolved due to the beneficence of the Iranians. Why not go one farther and say that al Qaeda decided to give us a break as well?

If our troopers are, as we were previously told, simply an irritant and the Surge had so little effect in Iraq why is it then that Senator Obama wants to replicate it in Afghanistan? Why not just trust in the good intentions of our enemies and bring all our fighting men and women home from whatever theatre of operation they may now be engaged in? Isn’t that the logical outcome of current Democratic thinking?

And if there is so little ameliorative effect to be derived from our actions, why not expand the thesis and propose that all social programs be disbanded as well?