[SJackson]

I think Baker recommends semi-partition, three autonomous regions and some agreement with Turkey and Iran to leave them alone. And we largely withdraw to our bases in Iraq as guarantors of the peace. I don't see any complete Iraqus interruptus on the horizon.

That's been one guess. Perhaps workable, as long as we ignore the wished of the Iraqi government. Sounds a lot like the undeveloped Biden plan. The other is a phased, time certain withdrawl, also involving the Syrians and Iranians in the process. This wouldn't require essentially dismantling the Iraqi government as would plan A. Sounds a lot like the Murtha plan. IMO, if these are the options, it would have been better to hear about them before the election.

[George W. Bush]

IMO, if these are the options, it would have been better to hear about them before the election.

Yeah but the Republican plan ("TOTAL VICTORY!") wasn't much more convincing to voters than the Dim plan ("WE'RE NOT BUSH!"). An unbelievable-plan vs. a no-plan.

No matter how many times they say it, I just don't believe people voted this year on Iraq. I just don't.

It was boredom, it was Katrina and some of the other shortcomings, it was Abramoff/Delay/Foley, it was just something else. I don't even know anyone who ever talks about Iraq as impacting their vote. They're not gung-ho or opposed on Iraq other than some folks on the two political fringes.

They may have told the pollsters it's about Iraq. But that's not it.