Additional troops, bring in the UN, hold elections - this is John Kerry's "Strategy to Win the Peace in Iraq."
Isn't there something missing? What about a plan - with specific steps and timelines - to bring home the troops?
Within the next few months, American casualties in Iraq are going to hit one thousand - a number, I believe, that will force Kerry & Bush - and all elected officials - to answer the fundamental question on most Americans minds: When are our brave men and women coming home?
This is the place where Kerry distinguishes himself from Bush on the war, something he has not done so far. If he's not aggressive, however, Bush will beat him to the punch by announcing a date certain to bring the troops home, regardless of whether that date matches his own internal policies. At that point, regardless of the carnage in Iraq, Bush has the upper hand on the debate.
Stop talking about ways to improve the occupation, Mr. Kerry, and tell us what we want to hear: when our troops are coming home. Not only is it the right question to answer, it's politically smart.