where is Kerry's exit strategy?

The facts on the ground are inescapable--the US occupation of Iraq must be ended. Over the last several weeks, many of the nation's pundits, policy-makers and military brass have concluded that "the American position is untenable," as Richard Holbrooke said recently.

At this point, there are no good options but John Kerry, sadly, has bought into the neo-con's unfounded assumption that the US must remain in Iraq lest it descend into chaos. But, as Nation editor Katrina vanden Heuvel argues, by staying the course, America risks doing much more harm than good.

For the sake of our nation's credibility; of the untenable security
situation; the mounting US and Iraqi deaths and casualties; and of the
worldwide crisis of confidence in the United States triggered by Bush's unilateral policies, America needs a Kerry exit strategy.

For more, read vanden Heuvel's Editor's Cut
http://www.thenation.com/edcut/index.mhtml?bid=7

People in this country, as evidenced by the groans of dismay greeting nearly every poll showing support for W, are not waiting for someone to give a platform in line with Nation editorials. Joe Six-pack will say "Wuh? That dick wants us to cut and run in Iraq?" and vote for Bush. The idea that everyone will unite behind someone who espouses the ideals America has been programmed for two dozen years to treat as weenie bullshit always amuses me. Nader's failed candidacies, and, closer to my heart, the failed candidacies of Dean and Kucinich have shown that America is too messed up to agree with a progressive platform in such a way that the candidate who espouses it can win a national election.

you assume that most americans do as well. Our electorate has never been given a choice with both political parties lining up in favor of that damnable nation building, with democratic cowardice and pandering to corporate interests and hoping for the corporate handout leaving the public with no clear choice.

Yet you prattle that mantra that avows such full support of most americans for the war. I stand behind my fellow citizens , I believe sincerely in their inherent sense of goodness and fair play, unlike you apparently. If given the facts, if told the truth the electorate would, I firmly believe, overwhelmingly reject Bush's stratagems and schemes. The sad part is that they are being given no such choice....pity.

The last round of polls I read about show dropping support for Bush, with specific mention of the Iraqmire being his albatross; the groans of dismay are largely because we can't do f***-all to jump on it, since our team captain's too busy deriding our weenie bullshit.

And FWIW, Dean and Kucinich don't tell us how messed up America is so much as how messed up the Democratic party and/or the current primary system is, being as it was, y'know, a bunch of party primaries and not a national election. (In a national election, for instance, my state's twentysomething electorals would actually get weighed in instead of mooted.)

the neocons who support the DLC dont give a fig for anything but the furtherance of the right wing control of the Democratic Party. They will lie, distort and ignore all rationale and evidence that opposes their own sectarian views and that includes sacrificing another election!

before you post some self righteous indignant "I dont support that war" piece...If you aint part of the solution you are part of the problem.

When you make assumptions as to the bloodthirsty nature of the american people you are definitely a part of the problem.People kept in the dark and fed shit are mushrooms not informed voters, and political parties that pander to the war out of cowardice are also a part of the problem.

The possible key to this election and only one comment from a neocon seeking to further diminsh progressive commentary, Limbaugh would be so very proud of all of you!

And this is a good piece.

long ago said Democrats should pay more attention to Pat Buchanan on foreign policy. Speaking of the Nation, it is long past fuckin' time Mr. Vidal and other non-interventionists got more of the "progressive" spotlight. If Iraq, Israel, Palestine, etc. fell off the planet this minute I highly doubt many on this board would in their heart of hearts care more than Vidal or me. I'm not encouraging that, I'm just saying there is a looooooooooong list of concerns for any person or country. This country has gotten way out of hand with its international concerns. 3,000 people dying at the WTC is a bad thing, but so is over 40,000 dying each year in U.S. traffic accidents. Get a fucking grip, people. We're the fucking U.S.. We're the WMD capital of the world. We use gasoline like it's water. Iraq shouldn't matter much one way or the fucking other. Where is the Iraqi Adams, Franklin, Jefferson, Washington, etc.? Life is short. Enough about all these feuding countries already. We're the U.S.! We should have higher priorities! Sheeeeeeesssssssh!

We have priorities, but we undermine them by accepting such candidates as John Kerry by saying ,"oh well at least he is a democrat". Time and again I see folks supporting policies and agendas that the democrats refuse to adopt and then voting democrat anyway.....The two party system is a fraud and a sham and the sooner we seek alternatives the sooner we begin to assure our grandchildren a better nation.