Abu Wabu

Joseph Lieberman has just returned from Iraq and writes in the WaPo:

In Iraq today we have a responsibility to do what is strategically and morally right for our nation over the long term -- not what appears easier in the short term. The daily scenes of death and destruction are heartbreaking and infuriating. But there is no better strategic and moral alternative for America than standing with the moderate Iraqis until the country is stable and they can take over their security. Rather than engaging in hand-wringing, carping or calls for withdrawal, we must summon the vision, will and courage to take the difficult and decisive steps needed for success and, yes, victory in Iraq. That will greatly advance the cause of moderation and freedom throughout the Middle East and protect our security at home.

Let's compare the two competing approaches to winning in Iraq as Senator Lieberman describes them:

Jack Murtha, other anti-war idiots:
Handwringing, carping, calls for withdrawal.

President Bush, Coalition Forces, Senator Lieberman:
Vision, will, courage.

I appreciate Joe Lieberman's clarity of vision. He has one goal in mind in Iraq: win the war.

In the same vein but with broader reach, here's Jim Geraghty:

Day by day, I am more stunned at how much of our national discourse is looking back and bitching about the past, as opposed to looking forward and figuring out what to do next.

Life is not an endless succession of terrorism, war, natural disasters, scandals, economic instability, extremism, demagoguery and escalating violence. (Although 2006 had its share of those.)

Amongst the tragedies, horrors and setbacks, the world enjoys greater and a wider range of information at its fingertips than ever before. It is a world in which a woman runs Germany, a woman may run France in the coming year, and who knows what 2008 holds for America’s political leadership. Saddam faces the gallows next year, and one of these years – heck, perhaps one of these days - Castro will kick the bucket. Libya is scheduled to destroy the last of its chemical weapons in April. Somehow, Iraq’s economy grew anywhere from 4 to 13 percent amidst all the violence there. Knocking on wood, there have been no successful attacks on American soil since the anthrax mailings, and no successful attacks in Europe since 7/7/05. The high cost of oil for much of the past year spurred more interest and investment in alternative fuels than ever before. Ahmadinejad had a setback in Iran’s most recent elections, suggesting not everyone in Iran is eager for a bloody confrontation. China managed to nudge – or perhaps shove – North Korea back to the bargaining table. And the consensus of the Iraq Study Group that the Middle East will calm down as soon as Israel makes concessions looks a little silly, as Hamas and Fatah are too busy killing each other to consider negotiating with the Israelis.

Then again, the Jets control their own destiny for the NFL playoffs, so maybe I'm just in an unnaturally optimistic mood.