The real opportunity presented by the Baker-Hamilton process is that it's bipartisan. To get most American troops out of Iraq over the next year will require more patience at home, and a lot less partisan bickering. And our politicians will need strong stomachs: They must manage an orderly retreat under fire. There is a path out of this mess, but we will be lying if we call it victory.
If only we get the Wise Old Men of Washington in the room together, and have them put politics aside, then all will be well. The problems we've had, in an era where one party controls everything, are all due to partisan bickering. If only sensible voices, like Ignatius's, who are unfettered by the petty concerns of politics - you know, getting the support of voters, the consent of governed - could rise up above the fray and politicians could have the "strong stomachs" to listen to them, then we'd eventually find the pony.Of course, I remember what happened the last time the Wise Old Men of Washington got together and came up with a cunning plan.