“In an attempt to justify his stay-the-course strategy in
“Whatever improvements in security that may have resulted
from the efforts of our troops since the surge began, Iraqi leaders have not
done the hard political work on which the future of their country depends. And
therefore, the purpose of the surge -- to enable the Iraqis to produce
political reconciliation – has not been accomplished. That is the standard against which Congress
and the American people will judge the White House report of September 15.
“Instead of continuing to spend money and lives in
