The Real Question

I'm listening to a Republican focus group on NPR arguing that we are "winning" the war in Iraq. Hearing that, it struck me that all of the debate about whether or not the surge is working -- and the President has pulled his usual bait-and-switch on this point -- is beside the point, and that once again the MSM has failed to pursue the real issue. I'd like to hear every candidate answer the following questions: Regardless of whether or not you believe that the Iraq war is justified and winnable, should the United States be in a war that has no public support? If yes, why? If no, what are your plans for ending American involvement in the conflict.

The debate about winning and losing is increasingly surreal and irrelevant. (I mean, can you believe this drivel?) The American people no longer want our country to be in this war. Public opinion polling is plain on this point, so why are we routinely ignored by the president and by the media? The administration's contempt for public opinion is well known, so that's not a surprise. But considering the army of reporters that have descended on Iowa and New Hampshire, you'd think that one of them might have raised this point. Or not: No one lately has accused the MSM of originality of thought.