MICHAEL LEDEEN . . .

. . . a guy who knows a lot more about this stuff than I do, agrees with me.

Simply put, WIN THE DAMN WAR. It's the best thing for the country, the world, and for Bush -- in that order of importance, frankly. Does Bush want to end the harping and sniping? Does Bush want to win back his base, who are leaving him in droves (explaining his record-low polling of late)? Does Bush want to leave a lasting, meaningful, Reaganesque legacy -- not only for himself, but because we'll all be better off for it?

Says Ledeen:

The proper debate has still not been engaged, and the administration's failure to lead it bespeaks a grave failure of strategic vision. The war was narrowly aimed against the Iraqi regime of Saddam Hussein. But, as President Bush himself said after 9/11, it was logically and properly a war against both the terrorists themselves and against the regimes that foster, support, arm, train, indoctrinate, and guide the terrorist legions who are clamoring for our destruction.

I worry that the strategic vision is not there. I thought it was, on September 20, 2001. I'm not so sure anymore.