This
AFP story sets out the commanding (multinational troop force) general's three criteria for troop draw-downs:
"Vines set out three conditions to be able to move toward US troop disengagement: a stable and competent Iraqi government, effective Iraqi security forces, and general security and stability in the country."
We will be lucky to achieve one of those three goals with the present strategy.
Vines focus, according to this news story, was on a potential expansion of the Sunni insurgency in the event that the constitutional process leaves them disenfranchised. The "stability" operation is far more complex than just that. We have seen Shiite versus Shiite fighting between al Sadr's Mahdi Army and the Badr Brigade of SCIRI.
Stability in Iraq is vital to the security of the United States and to our quality of life. It will be a long, difficult process. There is a leadership vacuum in our politics, however, as neither the president nor the most vocal protesters are providing a tenable policy for Iraq.
The Democrats need to set a clear policy in oppostion to Bush's and with the realization that we are in a difficult yet essential conflict.