It's missing something, but it's better than nothing

I'm particularly fond of democracy, when elected officials stop pandering to the figurehead of power and actually take an active role in providing something for their country. In this case, the United States Senate has taken a crucial step towards a phased withdrawal from Iraq, and has also dealt a blow to President Bush's hardline approach that there won't be a withdrawal from Iraq as long as there's Insurgents/Terrorists/Dissidents.

I'm also surprised with the lack of bluster and spin surrounding this. I guess I'll just have to wait for the spit and hot air to start flying before I make any assumptions about this though. The Administration spin machine just takes a little while to warm up before it starts dispensing lies like lemonade on a hot day.

I feel that a continued international presence would be beneficial in Iraq. However, I feel it should be an United Nations one, present at the behest of the Iraqis, rather than as their oppressive occupiers. However, the United Nations is largely under the control of the United States, and so such notions are dreamlike, and have not much of a chance to come to fruition. Iraq is faced largely with two options. The U.S .led coalition staying and wrecking forth a terrible war against a foreign terrorist network, or the U.S. led coalition withdrawing, and leaving the nation to a bloody civil war and the possibility of fragmentation and annexation by neighboring countries.

Neither of the options are particularly appealing to the betterment of the country.