Four years to the very day GWB flew aboard an aircraft carrier and declared "Mission Accomplished," the civil war in Iraq that America started goes on still. In the last hour as I write these words, Bush vetoed a military authorization bill that gave him mo' money -- way more -- than he asked for to make sure the "surge" actually works, but nevertheless set a date certain to being withdrawing troops.
Whatever one may think about the war, whether it was right or wrong (and I have always leaned towards the latter) the fact remains four years is more than enough time for an oil-rich country to pull itself up by the bootstraps and take control for itself; enough time to have trained its own military force to take on the insurgency, rebuild infrastructure and manage its own destiny.
Setting a timetable doesn't necessarily give the insurgents a chance to "mark their calendars" as claimed by Bush. It sets a timetable for Iraqis to have one last chance to avoid becoming a failed state. Even many Republicans in both Houses are sick and tired of bankrolling a regime that is either inept or corrupt and will be seen, as long as Americans are there, of being a puppet to the White House.
It's time to fortify the homefront, to prepare for the next terrorist attack on the homefront. That requires troops at home, not abroad.
On the same vein, it's time for Canada to tell Afghanistan it's time for it to meet targets as well or we're going home too. There's only so much we can tolerate, too.
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