U.S. Lowers Sights On What Can Be Achieved in Iraq

(From Sunday's Washington Post)

Pardon my cynicism, but our nation-building efforts in Iraq seem to be going just as war opponents had predicted.

I should say more: I applaud American forces for all the good they have done in Iraq. But I continue to be frustrated that the administration summarily dismissed criticisms and concerns about its plan (or lack thereof) to create a stable democratic government in post-Saddam Iraq. It was, and is, a noble goal, but the Bush administration never had a viable postwar plan and refused to answer critics who called them out on it. Now American, Coalition, and Iraqi forces, and especially the people of Iraq, are suffering for the administration's lack of foresight.