While it's good fun to mock Tom "Six Months 'Till I Get a Pony" Friedman, he is in fact just reflecting Conventional Beltway Wisdom on the subject of Iraq. Hope seems to be the only plan, despite the fact that wishes are, sadly, not ponies. There seems to be little constructive dialogue by the so-called hawks or others in the Washington foreign policy establishment. Politicians, too, are living on the "6 months or so and then... ... ..." platform.
But George Bush is president. George Bush is not leaving Iraq. George Bush is not going to withdraw troops from Iraq. The war is becoming increasingly unpopular. Leaders are not stepping up to represent that sentiment in sufficient numbers. Nothing magical is going to happen between now and election day which, according to my calendar, is just about 6 months from now.
And, after election day, Tom Friedman and the rest of them will simply reboot, and consider what the next 6 months will bring.
Onward to Iran!
