Sit & Watch II

teh
Paul Begala thinks it’s OK not to have a unifying single plan for Iraq if you aren’t the party in power:

The only place in the American government where there is an honest and spirited debate over Iraq is within the Democratic Party. Nancy Pelosi and Steny Hoyer are not on the same page – and that’s a good thing. Hillary Clinton and John Kerry disagree. Hooray for that.

If anyone tells you the solution to Iraq is easy or obvious, they’re a liar or a fool (a false choice in the case of our president). So why not feature the debate? At least someone is debating what to do.

The fact is the American people want a new direction in Iraq, and the Democrats offer several. The Republicans, on the other hand, offer nothing more than a four-word strategy: more of the same.

Or a three word strategy: Sit & Watch.

Begala is right; it’s an issue that needs debating and Republicans simply aren’t and won’t -ever. An answer needs to be found because sitting and watching is not a plan. Blind obedience to a (very) failed policy is not leadership.

Keep in mind, President Bush has already stated that it will be up to future presidents to figure a way out of Iraq. In advance of 2008, perhaps its good Democrats are beginning to make plans.

Update: The U.S. Senate defeated a measure today that called for troops to begin withdrawing from Iraq by the end of the year. The vote was 60-39 . But I'm pleased to report Illinois' two senators, Durbin and Obama both voted for the non-binding resolution.