Fine lines

"There's a fine line between genius and insanity," goes the old saw. This is not the only instance, though, where trouble can masquerade as a virtue. Equally fine lines separate bravery and recklessness, and resolve and stubbornness.

From a Presidential Press Conference, Aug. 21, 2006:

Q: Mr. President, I'd like to go back to Iraq. You have continually cited the elections, the new government's progress in Iraq -- and, yet, the violence is starting to worsen in certain areas. You have to go to Baghdad, again. Is it not time for a new strategy? And, if not, why not?

Bush: The strategy is to help the Iraqi people achieve their objectives and their dreams, which is a democratic society. That's the strategy. The tactics __ now, either you say, yes, it's important that we stay there and get it done; or we leave. We're not leaving so long as I'm the president. That would be a huge mistake. It would send an unbelievably terrible signal to reformers across the region. It would say we've abandoned our desire to change the conditions that create terror. It would give the terrorists a safe haven from which to launch attacks. It would embolden Iran. It would embolden extremists. No, we're not leaving.

After 3+ years, the evidence is that our stay in Iraq is doing more harm than good to both the Iraqis and our own national security. Yes, our presence IS helping form an improbable union of Shiite, Sunni and Kurd -- by inspiring them to stop shooting at each other long enough to attack the hated Americans. I don't think that's what we had in mind when we set out to get those groups to cooperate.

We've reached a point where we hate to think of leaving, because we have a sense of the inevitable power struggle that will ensue despite our investment, and the hostile Shiite regime that will likely emerge in the aftermath. But since there is no indication a longer stay will avert these outcomes, remaining is literally throwing good money (and lives) after bad. One can admire the President's resolve and willingness to do what he thinks is right, despite opinion polls. Such polls are not always the best basis for making national policy. But as Francis Fukuyama points out in his latest book, America at the Crossroads:

"Great leadership often involves putting aside self-doubt, bucking conventional wisdom, and listening only to an inner voice that tells you the right thing to do. ... The problem is that bad leadership can also flow from these same characteristics: steely determination can become stubbornness; the willingness to flout conventional wisdom can amount to a lack of common sense; the inner voice can become delusional."

So the question is, how high a price might we pay for stubbornness? One thing is certain: while the President has (rightfully) refused to set a public timetable/deadline for withdrawal, we know now at LEAST how long we'll be in Iraq: through January 20, 2009.