Yesterday, I moaned a bit about the situation in Iraq. But moaning about a problem doesn't do much good unless you also have a suggestion about what to do. Here are a few of my thoughts:

First, as long as we're in Iraq in force, the Iraqis have no particular impetus to resolve their problems and reconstruct their own police and military, knowing that we'll cover for them and - most important - we'll always be there to be blamed for their problems. So set a firm deadline for the withdrawal of our troops. I know the argument that says the insurgents will be emboldened and claim victory if we announce we're going to withdraw. That's why we should also...

Second, immediately crack down - hard - on the border crossings that are now run by corrupt Iraqi officials who let foreign fighters and materiel into the country. In conjunction with that, start getting draconian with people caught with suicide vests, car bomb factories, etc. Summary execution sounds good, and helps make the point that we're not going to be the punching bag any more.

Third, put a LOT more emphasis on fighting the insurgents in the media. So far, these bastards have had a free ride with their websites and audiotapes, CDs and DVDs, and their willing compatriots at al Jazeera and al Arabiya to push their message...so let's take the mental fight to them with some sophisticated media offensives of our own. I know many will recoil in horror at the thought of America using "propaganda," but let's start living in the real world and playing by its rules.

Well, that's a start. It won't go all the way toward getting out of the tar baby's embrace, but it can't hurt any more than the slow agony we're going through now.

A happier post tomorrow, I promise.

Bilbo