If this is what winning in Iraq looks like, I'd hate to see what losing looks like

"We are winning in Iraq," John McCain proclaimed to cheering crowd.

But it looks like the rest of America doesn't quite agree. According to a poll released by George Washington University, 56% of Americans believe that the war is not worth fighting for. A Gallup poll finds that 63% of Americans think that the war was a mistake.

But that won't stop John McCain from being George Bush's cheerleader for the war in Iraq. In fact, both are trying to convince us that withdrawing our troops is akin to surrendering. This imagery is so emotionally powerful because, well, no one likes to lose. But what are we losing?

We supposedly went into Iraq with clear objectives: secure the weapons of mass destruction and depose of the Saddam Hussein regime. And since we didn't have to worry about the former (lucky us! no WMD's after all!), and we have clearly achieved the latter, why are we still there? And why is it considered "losing" if we leave with having fulfilled our initial objectives?

If we are in Iraq for some other purpose, some other mission, our leaders have an obligation to let us know. Yes, perhaps these other motivations aren't politically convenient, and enlistment may drop. But if our leaders truly believe that America absolutely needs to stay in Iraq, we deserve to know why. We deserve to be given all of the information so that WE can decide for ourselves, whether the cause is worthy.

But of course, John McCain and George W. Bush believe that Americans don't know any better to make the correct decision after being presented with all the information.

How terribly elitist of them.